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A peephole into millennials
A dramedy from filmmaker Anggi Dwimas Sasongko captures the gap between millennials and the older generation, the consumerism trap and what it takes to preserve one’s authentic self above the noise on social media – all wrapped in a heartwarming family story
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A dramedy from filmmaker Anggi Dwimas Sasongko captures the gap between millennials and the older generation, the consumerism trap and what it takes to preserve one’s authentic self above the noise on social media – all wrapped in a heartwarming family story.
Buka’an 8 refers to the cervical dilation degree, the very moment in which a new life is about to start, as the baby is one step away from being born.
In theaters since Thursday, the title is a bit of a misnomer in terms of describing what the movie is all about, but it’s impeccable if its aim is to underline the character arc over the course of the story — which is set from one morning to the evening of the same day.
It should be a happy day for expecting father Alam Tandjung (Chicco Jerikho), a hot-headed Twitter celebrity in a controversy over his remarks to a politician and for publishing a book without copyright title. But all the ensuing ruckus doesn’t start there.
To please his wife Mia (Lala Karmela) and the in-laws, because after all it is to be the first grandchild for both families, Alam admits her to the VIP class of a luxurious hospital that offers a 50 percent discount for a certain period of time. Only when he is about to pay the down payment, is he told that he is a day too late.
From then on, Alam is literally all over the place. Running around the hospital, the mosque and to the construction site nearby for free refills of drinking water, all the time on his smartphone posting selfies for self-branding, talking to loan sharks, escaping their thuggish minions and running away from his stroke-survivor father-in-law Abah (Tio Pakusadewo) while engaging in a tweet brawl.
His only solace (not at the beginning, though) is his widowed mother, played by Dayu Wijanto.
The text conversation made either through chat platform WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter is flashed on the screen accompanied by the voice of the cameo actors whose profile pictures are animated to keep the virtual world real.
Alam is so busy with his phone (one might be curious what type he’s using because its battery never seems to run out) despite protests from Mia, who wants him to focus on their baby and questions from his mother-in-law Ambu (Sarah Sechan) about what kind of work he does on the phone instead of being at an office. Advanced communications technology and social media, however, turn out to be the saviors of the day.
It’s interesting that Alam’s handle is Alam Merdeka, which means “the freedom universe” and that he’s wearing a shirt inside-out with “Are you a puppet in social media?” emblazoned on it.
If these symbolize anything, it could be social criticism, which is always present in Angga’s works, such as Cahaya dari Timur: Beta Maluku (Lights from the East: I Am Maluku, 2014), Filosofi Kopi (The Coffee Philosophy, 2015) and Surat dari Praha (Letters from Prague, 2016).
Written by Salman Aristo, Buka’an 8 is a compact story seen through the eyes of a man in his early 30s facing societal pressures that demand him to be a dutiful son or son-in-law, a providing husband and a father who can be looked up to, besides the urgency of just being himself. It explores issues so close to home without being pretentious.
The ensemble cast is excellent. They shine in their delivery and give balance to the main character, even the extras steal some scenes. Maruli Tampubolon and Melissa Karim are convincing as the gynecologist and head nurse, respectively.
The linear story construction receives its depth from the dynamic camera work by Robie Taswin while the mood creation is aided by the theme songs titled “Untuk Perempuan Yang Sedang Dalam Pelukan” (For the Woman In My Arms) by indie band Payung Teduh and “Ayun Buai Zaman” (Rock-a-bye of the Age) by Yogyakarta-based FSTVLST.
I’m not sure why the movie is considered safe for teenagers due to some sexual references and kissing scenes in it, however, Buka’an 8 surely is a good choice for entertainment that all generations can relate to.
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Buka’an 8
(Visinema Pictures, Chanex Ridhall Pictures, Kaninga Pictures; 110 minutes)
Director: Angga Dwimas Sasongko
Scriptwriter: Salman Aristo
Cast: Chicco Jerikho, Lala Karmela, Tio Pakusadewo, Sarah Sechan, Dwi Sasono, Dayu Wijanto, Maruli Tampubolon, Melissa Karim, Mo Sidik, Ary Kirana, Deddy Mahendra Desta,
