N

egeri Tanpa Telinga (Country without Ears) delivers subversive jabs at the country'€™s politics, spouting black humor for the audience to laugh at, however painfully.

The people behind Without Ears pulled out all the stops to deliver a satirical black comedy, but without breaking stride in its criticisms of greed, political crime or sex scandals '€” staples of Indonesia politics.

Without Ears is the fourth film by director Lola Amaria, known for taking on social and political issues in her works.

In two of her previous movies, she explored lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) themes in Sanubari Jakarta (Heartbeat of Jakarta), released in 2012, and the lives of Indonesian migrant workers in the drama, Minggu Pagi di Victoria Park (Sunday Morning at Victoria Park), which debuted in 2010.

But Without Ears, which she co-wrote, is Lola'€™s first attempt at a full-fledged satire.

The film revolves around the life of humble and simple-minded traditional masseur Naga (T. Rifnu Wikana), who offers his services to people from all walks of life.

Among his many customers is Ustad Etawa (Lukman Sardi), whom he knows as a pious Muslim preacher with many followers. Naga does not realize that Etawa is also chairman of one of the largest political parties in the fictional country; the religious Partai Amal Syurga (Heavenly Deeds Party).

Colluding with a successful lamb-meat importer, Etawa and his associates plan to manipulate legal regulations to embezzle money from state coffers to fund their political party. Etawa and his men lead
a double life '€” donning masks of piety for the public, while leading lives of hedonism in private.

Another one of Naga'€™s customers is Piton Wangsalaba (Ray Sahetapy), chairman of the ruling political party, Partai Martobat.

To Naga, Piton is simply a kind and wealthy man; unconcerned with Piton'€™s importance or power. He just wants to help people release tension and lead healthier lives.

Piton plans to run for president and he needs a lot of money to do so. With the full support of party mate Joki Ringkik (Rukman Rosadi) and Mr. Marmood (Tanta Ginting) '€” who is a minister in the current cabinet '€”  Piton orchestrates the building of a massive public housing project, marking up the construction  costs for the benefit of his party.

To win support from parliament members for the project, Piton employs high-power lobbyist Tikis Queenta (Kelly Tandiono). Tikis is ready to do anything and everything needed to make sure the project is approved and to help Piton, with whom she is having affair.

The devious plans, however, catch the attention of investigators from the Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Commission (KAPAK).

Meanwhile, an idealistic TV journalist, Chika Cemani (Jenny Zhang), another one of Naga'€™s customers, is on her own crusade to uncover Piton'€™s corruption plan.

From news on television and talks at the massage table, Naga slowly pieces together how his customers fit into unfolding drama.

In delivering the satire, Lola and co-writer Indra Tranggono drew from corruption cases and political scandals Indonesians are by now familiar with, given their heavy rotation in daily news cycles.

Without Ears'€™ cutting satire and humor challenges the audience to view the scandals and corruption cases so commonly found in the headlines with a new perspective; as a window into the real stories that tarnish Indonesian politics and society.

The film, which premiers on Aug. 14, is a potent combination of black-comedy, cringe-comedy and satire, full of laughs and revelations.