In a hut made of used plywood, she lives with her father, Raga (Raffi Ahmad), who earns money by repairing shoes and selling fish, and her ailing grandma, whom she calls Si Mbok (Inggrid Widjanarko).  

Rara repeatedly asks her dad to make a window, but due to financial problems, he cannot fulfill his daughter’s request.  

Rara’s daily life is far from a child’s dream. She attends a free school (in a makeshift house) for street children. After school, undeterred by the scorching sun, she makes money as a street singer. On rainy days, she offers an umbrella for rent.

Even though she comes from an unfortunate family, she is happy because she has a father who always tells her bedtime stories and a grandmother who kisses her goodbye every time she goes off to school.  

In another part of the capital, Aldo (Emir Mahira), 11, who was born to a wealthy family, lives in a luxurious house with many big windows.  

He is the youngest son of successful businessman Syahri (Aswin Fabanyo) and Ratna (Alicia Djohar), a socialite who also sells expensive jewelry and gemstones.  

Aldo, who has autism, is always dropped off and picked up by a driver in a posh car wherever he goes, and there is also a housemaid who prepares every little thing he needs.  

One rainy day, while Rara is offering her umbrella she is accidentally sideswiped by Aldo’s car. The accident introduces Rara and Aldo to each other and eventually brings the two closer. They become best friends.  

Later, Aldo allows Rara and her friends from the slums to play in his house.  

Aldo cannot be happier. He has wanted a lot of friends since his parents and siblings were always busy.  

Before Rara and her friends came into his life, Aldo mostly spent his time with his grandma, Nek Aisyah (Atie Kanser), who just moved in.   

The story does not stop at that point. Some problems and conflicts occur to test the quality of their friendship.  

The happy-go-lucky Aldo feels down when he finds out that his older sister is ashamed to have an autistic brother like him, making him thinking that nobody in the family loves him.  

His mother is also annoyed with the existence of Aldo’s new friends in the house.

Based on a short story titled Jendela Rara (Rara’s Window) by Asma Nadia, Rumah Tanpa Jendela is a musical flick which offers a simple theme of friendship and family togetherness.  

Aditya Gumay sticks to his path in creating children-themed pieces after he founded Teater Kawula Muda (Youngsters’ Theater) in 1986 and Sanggar Ananda (Ananda Studio) in 1989, and directing the Lenong Bocah televison series.  

Earlier, he created two films Tina Toon & Lenong Bocah, starring singer Tina Toon, famous for her neck moves and “Bolo-bolo” song, in 2003 and critically acclaimed drama Emak Ingin Naik Haji (Mother Wants To Go on the Haj), which was nominated in six categories at the 2009 Film Festival Indonesia and won the Best Director award at the 2010 Bandung Film Festival.  

“The film drives us all to appreciate what God has given to us. Through this flick, I want to show people that there is a kid out there who dreams of having a single window, while we have expensive things like watches or cell phones,” Aditya said.  

The Aldo character also brings another message of treating autistic children equally and not despising them since they are just like other children who want to be loved.  

The ensemble cast, from the leading actor and actress to the ones who play smaller parts like the housemaid, driver and street children, do their jobs well, without overdoing the characters.  

Emir Mahira, recognized for his role as a talented soccer player in the children’s film Garuda Di Dadaku (The Garuda on My Chest), steals the show as he portrays Aldo naturally, bringing both fun and drawing sympathy at the same time through his performance.  

Aditya himself praised Emir as a young yet talented actor who easily absorbed his instructions.  

Dwi Tasya also gives a notable performance, proving herself as a talented newcomer in the Indonesian movie scene.  

The story has also been adapted for the stage and was included in the Children’s Theater Festival recently, snatching awards for Best Actress for Dwi and a Best Director award for Ouzan Ruz, who stars as Aldo’s brother Adam in the movie version.  

Talented members of Sanggar Ananda and Teater Kawula Muda brighten  the film with their dancing, singing and acting skills.  A short appearance from renowned emcee Indra Bekti brought some laughs with his jokes and wit.  

The audience may question the casting of Raffi Ahmad as Rara’s father. The 24-year-old Raffi appears to be too young to play a father figure even though he grows a beard in a bid to make him look older.  

Another thing that raises eyebrows is the appearance of singer Yuni Shara, who happens to be Raffi’s girlfriend in real life.  Yuni plays Rara’s aunt, Asih, who used to live with the family but later chose to leave them to work in Batam. Should the filmmakers have put the much-talked-about couple together in the same movie?  

Aside from the Raffi-Yuni factor, this is a worth watching fine film for a whole family.

Verdict: A heart-warming yet inspiring family movie that tells us to be grateful for every little thing we have and for our families.

Rumah Tanpa Jendela
(100 minutes, Smaradhana Pro and Sanggar Ananda)
Starring Emir Mahira, Dwi Tasya, Raffi Ahmad, Inggrid Widjanarko, Yuni Shara, Aswin Fabanyo, Alicia Djohar, Atie Kanser, Indra Bekti
Director: Aditya Gumay
Writers: Aditya Gumay, Adenin Adlan
Producers: Adenin Adlan, Seto Mulyadi

Popular

To my horror, it’s just a movie!

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Pentagon chief congratulates Prabowo on being elected President