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Must-see homegrown silver-screen adaptations
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Y
es, we’re well aware of the issues with screen adaptations of literary masterpieces. And yes, some really good reads have been massacred on screen, whether because of the artistic liberties taken, the stars cast or even the way the scenes fail to live up to your imagination. But when they work, they REALLY work.
With the big-screen version of Ika Natassa's The Architecture of Love now playing in cinemas, we’ve decided to round up five of our favorite page-to-screen adaptations.
- ‘Dilan’ series
Dilan and Milea in 1990, in 1991, and forevermore. These two lovebirds just can’t seem to stay away from each other. Adapted from Pidi Baiq’s 2004 novel titled Dilan: Dia adalah Dilanku Tahun 1990 (Dilan: He is my Dilan 1990), the love story lasted three full-length box office movies.
The first of the saga arrived in 2018 and was bookended by Milea (Milea: Suara dari Dilan) (Milea: Voice from Dilan) in 2020. Throughout some growing pains, both emotionally and physically, the two have to overcome a number of hurdles together. Sounds like the perfect recipe for an epic story, doesn’t it? The massive audience numbers agree.
Read also: Jakarta Highlights: Where to go for a pop of culture
- ‘Laskar Pelangi’
Arguably one of the most famous movies to come out of our country, Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Troops) got its plot from one of the best-selling Indonesian novels in history, Andrea Hirata’s 2005 book of the same name. The inspiring story, which is rooted in a true story, centers around a group of poor students and their inspiring teachers in Belitung, Bangka Belitung.
The 2008 film will give you a newfound appreciation for the importance of easier access to education, the urge to visit the island of Belitung and one iconic song to be added to the playlist. It’s no wonder the film set the record for being the highest-grossing Indonesian film at the time, drawing 4.6 million viewers.
- ‘5 cm’
From a novel in 2005 to a film in 2012, writer Donny Dhirgantoro really carried this story all the way to the top of the proverbial mountain.
Both works of art gained success in their own rights. A tale of five adrenaline junkies who reunite with the goal of planting a flag at the top of Java’s highest peak, Mahameru, the novel set a bestseller book record at Gramedia Bookstore for two years in a row, while the film received five Citra Cup nominations and won the Best Cinematography Direction category at the 2013 Indonesian Film Festival.
Read also: Where to stroll in a city where ‘nobody wants to walk’
- ‘My Stupid Boss’
If you’ve been part of the corporate world, we’re willing to bet you can relate to this one. My Stupid Boss is a 2016 comedy film based on a four-part novel series of the same name by Chaos@Work. The story follows Diana as she navigates a work relationship with her new, entitled and irritating boss. Hilarity ensues.
The film received three accolades at the Indonesia Film Festival and is now regarded as one of the most beloved Indonesian comedies of all time. For employees like us, anyway.
- ‘KKN di Desa Penari’
If we can include non-traditional literature in the list, this would be it. KKN di Desa Penari (KKN: Curse of the Dancing Village) began life as a supposedly real account of supernatural phenomena experienced by six university students undergoing their compulsory community work (KKN). To conceal the students’ identities and the location, the village was dubbed Desa Penari (Dancers’ Village).
The story, posted on then-Twitter in June 2019, took Indonesian social media by storm. When it finally hit theaters in April 2022, it achieved the fifth largest opening-day crowd in the history of Indonesian cinema and went on to draw more than 10 million viewers, making it currently the most-watched Indonesian film of all time.
Read also: Joko Anwar's Leap of Faith
This article is part of The Weekender, which comes out on the Saturday edition of The Jakarta Post. It offers a variety of lifestyle and culture articles aimed at enriching your reading experience. Subscribe here to get access to the Saturday edition and all other premium content from the Post.
