Director Teddy Soeriaatmadja has released his newest movie, Menunggu Pagi (Awaiting Morning).

Taking place over a 12-hour period, it tells intertwined stories of Jakarta teens who are going to dance music festival Djakarta Warehouse Project and face a few mishaps along the way.

Starring Aurelie Moeremans, Arya Saloka, Arya Vasco, Mario Lawalata, Bio One, Ganindra Bimo, Putri Marino, Raka Hutchinson and Yayu Unru, this is Teddy's ninth movie. His previous films are known to have more personal touches, such as the critically-acclaimed Something in the Way (2013) and About A Woman (2015). Lovely Man (2011) tells the story of a transgender woman and her teenage daughter who are uneasy about each other. It premiered at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Picture at the 2012 Indonesian Film Festival. Donny Damara, who portrayed the transgender woman, won Best Actor at the festival.  

With that in mind, some might say that Menunggu Pagi deals with the lighter subject of a few teenagers heading to the biggest dance music festival in Asia.

On a recent visit to The Jakarta Post, Aurelie, Arya and Vasco shared their thoughts about what drew them to star in the movie.

“The story is one of a kind, what with three points of view going on at the same time,” said Aurelie. “It’s about the lives of the younger generation, and I’m sure they can relate when they see the movie.”

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Vasco said that it was the director that made him interested. “And I think it is somewhat similar to Kuldesak, the 1998 movie that also deals with youth and presents unrelated characters dealing with their problems,” he added.

Meanwhile, Arya might have faced the biggest challenge in the movie, as he was the only main character who had never set foot in the festival. And with most of the movie shot in a studio, eventually he got the general vibe of DWP after the movie was screened. Similar to Vasco, he said that he has always wanted to work with Teddy.   

The movie is produced by IFI Sinema in collaboration with Ismaya Live as DWP’s organizer, who provided the festival’s footage.

“It tells the stories within one day; of conflicts, relationships, professional responsibilities, with Jakarta the city and DWP as the background,” said Linda from IFI Sinema. “I think the most important message in the movie is whatever decision a teenager makes, it comes with its own risks.”

Aurelie perhaps summed it up best: “It’s just like a rollercoaster ride: full of ups and downs.”

Menunggu Pagi has started playing in theaters on Thursday. (wng)