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The X factor
He dresses in black leather
H
e dresses in black leather. He wears a black mask and a long wig. He wears full makeup and totes a beauty kit containing deadly weapons. He is the new superhero: Madame X.
Before Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, he was nobody, just a skinny, unpopular nerd with thick glasses and unfashionable clothes.
Once he is bitten, he is a superhero. The bite gave him physical prowess and turned him into Spider-Man.
This zero-to-hero idea inspired Nia Dinata, the prominent Indonesian filmmaker, to produce Madame X through Kalyana Shira Films, the film studio she runs.
Madame X tells the story of the eccentric titular. As a superhero, Madame X’s power lies within his makeup bag — with a dash of martial arts and dance.
But who exactly is Madame X?
Madame X is Adam (well played by actor and comedian Aming Sugandhi), a transvestite working at a beauty salon in a metropolitan city in a sort of never-never land. Madame X’s outrageous appearance and bold look suggest the influence of both Lady Gaga and Madonna who are widely known for their jaw-dropping costumes and dress.
He (although the superhero is more than happy to be identified as a she) has numerous sidekicks including Aline (movie director Joko Anwar), a transgender “big brother” who takes care of Adam; Cun Cun (Fitri Tropica), a tomboyish girl who works in a repair shops and runs the salon; and a macho boyfriend.
One day a mysterious woman named Bunda Lilis (Sarah Sechan) comes to the salon and shares a revelation about Adam’s future, information that would suddenly change Adam’s happy life. Soon after, he and his gender-bending friends are rounded up while partying at a nightclub by a thuggish group called Bogem, under the command of Kanjeng Badai or Mr. Storm (Marcell Siahaan). Bogem’s members are uncompromising conservatives, who frequently take justice into their own hands and attempt to destroy anyone who stands in their way.
Kanjeng Badai, who is also a politician from a homophobic political party, has three wives — Kinky Amalia (Shanty), Bunda Ratu (Titi DJ) and Bunda Lilis, each of whom have special powers.
Adam is later abandoned by his captors in a seaside village called Tanjung Awan, where he meets Oom Rudy (Robby Tumewu) and Tante Yantje (Ria Irawan), a couple who runs a dance studio.
This couple sees the potential of Adam, and encourages him to learn Lenggok dance, a type of dance that transforms its performers into one who masters martial arts. This allows Adam to become Madame X. In Adam’s transformation into Madame X, the combination of traditional and modern dance is crucial.
Madame X serves as a social and political commentary — even more of a critique — of conditions in contemporary Indonesia. In poignant ways, certain scenes reflect Indonesia’s current situation. For example, the film discusses transgender issues and the growing intolerance of minority groups.
“Yes, this is a film about a minority group. With this film we hope that people start realizing the importance of equality so that we can be better as a nation,” said producer Nia Dinata after the film screening.
It is also interesting that each role mirrors the diversity of Indonesia. Singer Titi DJ, for example, plays Bunda Ratu, a Javanese, the first wife of Kanjeng Badai, while Sarah Sechan stars as Bunda Lilis, a Sundanese woman with a sixth sense.
Oom Rudy and Tante Yantje speak Indonesian with Dutch accents, which is sometimes hard to understand without a subtitle. There are also many Indonesian words not found in a typical Indonesian dictionary but used in everyday conversation.
Director Lucky Kuswandi mixes action with computer animation, groundbreaking CGI effects and some pop culture references, a nod to certain form of a graphic novel.
Some scenes present not-so-amusing jokes, especially the fight between Madame X and Kanjeng Badai’s three wives, which is over the top and way too long. But most of the film’s comedic sequences will put a smile on your face.
Lucky is a newbie in the Indonesian film industry and Madame X marks his feature film debut. The Jakarta-born director, who graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in 2003, previously created several short films including Still and A Letter of Unprotected Memories.
The ensemble cast has certainly embraced their roles in Madame X. No other actor could have portrayed the superhero more perfectly than Aming, who also created the character.
Aming is familiar with transgender acting roles since working in the television comedy Extravaganza alongside actor Tora Sudiro.
Verdict: Tired of mainstream local flicks that offer the same tired romances and horror? Then it’s time for you to check out the power of Madame X.
Madame X
(102 minutes, Kalyana Shira Film)
Starring Aming Sugandhi, Marcell Siahaan, Shanty,
Titi DJ, Sarah Sechan, Robbie Tumewu, Ria Irawan, Vincent Rompies, Fitri Tropica, Joko Anwar,
Saira Jihan, Ikhsan Himawan
Producer Nia Dinata
Director Lucky Kuswandi
Writers Agasyah Karim, Khalid Kashogi, Lucky Kuswandi
