The global pandemic did more harm than good for the Indonesian film industry—particularly for the ongoing Bumilangit Cinematic Universe. The superhero franchise hit the ground running with the 2019's Gundala starring Abimana Aryasatya as the titular hero—only for it to reluctantly hit the pause button for three years until the next entry can arrive on the big screens: Sri Asih.

Directed and co-written by Upi (Realita, Cinta dan Rock 'n Roll [Reality, Love and Rock ‘n Roll] and My Stupid Boss), the Indonesian superhero feature film recruits Pevita Pearce (Tenggelamnya Kapal Van der Wijck [The Sinking of Van der Wijck Ship] and 5 cm) as its titular heroine. 

The cast ensemble consists of Jenny Zhang (Susi Susanti: Love All), Keinaya Messi Gusti (Night Bus), Dimas Anggara (The Night Comes for Us), Randy Pangalila (Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku [I Kiss My Beautiful Body]), Surya Saputra (Untuk Rena [For Rena]), Jefri Nichol (Jakarta vs. Everybody), Reza Rahadian (Habibie & Ainun) and Christine Hakim (Tjoet Nja' Dhien).

The theatrical premiere of Sri Asih was initially scheduled for Oct. 6 before being pushed back to Nov. 17. The third entry of the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe, Virgo & the Sparklings starring Adhisty Zara, is set to premiere in early 2023.

Goddess of victory

After losing her parents in a bizarre accident, young Alana (played by Keinaya Messi Gusti) grows up in an orphanage while grappling with mystifying nightmares and anger issues. A mysterious woman named Sarita Hamzah (played by Jenny Zhang), seemingly aware of young Alana's questionable past, decides to adopt her and, over the years, nurtures her to become a professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. 

Unfortunately, regardless of the mental and physical training she receives in childhood, grown-up Alana (Pevita Pearce) still cannot help herself from having fits of rage whenever she is in the ring.

Alana's life soon unravels when Mateo Adinegara (played by Randy Pangalila), the son of a robust business magnate and an MMA enthusiast, coerces Sarita to have her stepdaughter as his opponent in an orchestrated cage fight. When Alana refuses to chuck the fight deliberately, Mateo starts causing havoc in her stepmother's gym, jeopardizing the well-being of Sarita and Alana's fellow athletes.

More surprises are in store when a tragedy unceremoniously strikes Mateo, driving his father (played by Surya Saputra) to take matters into his own hands, convinced that Alana is to be held responsible. A mysterious man named Kala (Dimas Anggara) immediately secures the mother-daughter pair in a safe house where his mother, Eyang Mariani (played by Christine Hakim) sheds light on Alana's true identity. She is the inheritor of a mystical power that belongs to an ancient Nusantara goddess named Dewi Asih.

As she starts donning her superheroine persona Sri Asih, Alana discovers that more dark mysteries must be unlocked. Besides Kala and Eyang Mariani, a corrupted policeman named Jatmiko (played by Reza Rahadian) and Alana's childhood friend-turned-investigative journalist named Tangguh (played by Jefri Nichol) find themselves involved in Sri Asih's vigilante crusade as well.

Modern deity: The official poster for Indonesian superhero film 'Sri Asih'. Its theatrical premiere was initially scheduled for Oct. 6 before being pushed back to Nov. 17. (Instagram/sriasihmovie.official) (Instagram/sriasihmovie.official)

Pearce-ing through the screen

The hot-headed superheroine is a perfect match for Upi: a writer-director still regarded in the industry for her 2006 movie Realita, Cinta dan Rock 'n Roll. Already seasoned enough in crafting both tempestuous and discombobulated characters, Upi's take on Sri Asih is exemplary that it might as well exceed the audience's expectation of the character – who made a brief, nonetheless monumental cameo in the 2019's Gundala.

Regardless of the protagonist's appeal and characterization, a superhero film only works when it casts a matchless lead. Upi and her co-writer-slash-producer Joko Anwar owe plenty to Pevita Pearce, who commands her every scene with gusto and pathos. While Abimana Aryasatya's interpretation of the stoic Gundala often appears too phlegmatic for his character's good, Pevita Pearce manages the superheroine's fighting chops without compromising her everywoman appeal.

Perhaps what is most commendable about Pevita Pearce's take on Sri Asih is her ability to restrain herself in a character whose state of mind is, ironically, unrestrained. The 30-year-old actress understands when to dial her theatrics up and, conversely, when to take it down a notch, creating a mystical crusader that is awe-inspiring and not at all campy.

Out of the supporting cast, predictably, it is Reza Rahadian that helps Pevita Pearce elevate Sri Asih to a league of its own. The veteran actor Surya Saputra deserves kudos as well for playing against type despite his dismaying screen time. Christine Hakim's Eyang Mariani commands authority without leaving her seat. In contrast, cameos by Maudy Koesnaedi (portraying Dewi Asih) and Dian Sastrowardoyo (portraying Dewi Api) might get the audience excited about what is to come in the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe.

Fiery cameos: 'Sri Asih' includes brief appearances from Dian Sastrowardoyo as Dewi Api (pictured), Maudy Koesnaedi and news anchor and presenter Najwa Shihab. (Instagram/sriasihmovie.official) (Instagram/sriasihmovie.official)

From the technical standpoint, Sri Asih marks an improvement to 2019's Gundala. The VFX artists of NO3G Visual Effects do their best at bringing the folkloric mystique of the superheroine's origin story to life. Still, it was the physical fighting sequences, its choreography courtesy of Uwais' team, that put the audience on the edge of their seat.

Meutia Pudjowarsito, who nabbed her first Citra Award nomination for best costume design courtesy of her work in 2017’s Marlina, Si Pembunuh Dalam Empat Babak (Marlina, the Killer in Four Chapters), weaves her career-best with the costume of the superheroine alone. She ensures Meutia is the one to watch in next year's award circuit. 

Seeking the light

The film's superior components aside, the audience can only wonder how many concessions Upi was allowed to make room for in Joko Anwar's vision – who also directed and solely wrote 2019’s Gundala screenplay. In tone and storytelling, Sri Asih is eerily similar to Gundala.

Considering the superheroine's root in the fictional Nusantara mythology, the neo-noir conveyance of Sri Asih feels both unsuitable and potentially demoralizing in the eyes of the audience. Moreover, the accompanying music scores, handled by Bembi Gusti, Tony Merle and Aghi Narottama, fall short of epitomizing the superheroine's ascension to serenity and a newfound sense of purpose. The scores, for lack of a better word, seem more suitable to an actual noir film than a zero-to-hero saga.

Several actors in the ensemble also add to the film's blemish. Frequent leading man Jefri Nichol is uncharacteristically awkward and stiff as what is the film's comic relief. Randy Pangalila's Mateo is exasperatingly one-note that his character's fate might leave the audience feeling relieved and not astonished. 

Despite his bulky acting portfolio, Dimas Anggara is nearly invisible whenever he shares a scene with either Pevita Pearce or Christine Hakim. Jourdy Pranata, who recently acquired his leading-man stardom thanks to this year's box office hit Kukira Kau Rumah (I Thought You Were Home), is severely underused. News anchor and presenter Najwa Shihab's cameo in the film feels less inspiring and more like stunt casting.

Ultimately, what was lacking in 2019’s Gundala continues to persist in this year's Sri Asih: the element of fun. Sri Asih could have become a major leap for the franchise—instead of a single step forward—had Upi imbued her usual playfulness and wicked humor, as evident in her past filmography. 

Moreover, the social critique of the haves and the have-nots in both films, delivered in saturnine colors and clinical lighting, have become so excessive that the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe starts losing what makes its lively source of material appealing to Indonesians in the first place. 

Fingers crossed that Joko Anwar and the company would allow themselves to restrain their penchant for darkness in the franchise's next entry. To quote the famed filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, “However vast the darkness is, we must supply our light.”

Sri Asih is available in theaters across Indonesia