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'Air Mata Surga' another religious-romantic family drama
Loving couple: Dewi Sandra plays Fisha while Richard Kevin plays Fikri Syarifudin
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Loving couple: Dewi Sandra plays Fisha while Richard Kevin plays Fikri Syarifudin.
Since the boom of Ayat-Ayat Cinta (Love Verses) in 2008, film producers have been racing to make religious-romantic dramas that originate from novels.
Ketika Cinta Bertasbih (When Love is Praying), 99 Cahaya di Langit Eropa (Ninety-Nine Lights in the European Sky), Perempuan Berkalung Sorban (Woman in a Headscarf) and Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan (The Forgotten Heaven) are examples of novel-based films that have been successful in selling more than 700,000 tickets.
The latest one, Air Mata Surga (Tears of Heaven), directed by Hestu Saputra, is trying to repeat the success of the genre.
Adapted from Aguk Irawan's true story, entitled Air Mata Tuhan (God's Tears), it is a memoir of a woman's dedication to her marriage.
Fisha (Dewi Sandra) is a final-year postgraduate student at a university in Yogyakarta who is working on her thesis. She is asked by her lecturers to meet a design professor, Fikri Syarifudin (Richard Kevin), who could guide her to finish her thesis.
During their first meeting in Jakarta, chemistry sparks between them.
Back in Yogyakarta, Fisha's childhood friend, Hamzah (Morgan Oey), who has always been there for her, confesses his romantic feelings for her.
Fisha refuses to accept his feelings, fearing that a romantic relationship would weaken their friendship. However, Hamzah tells her that he will wait for her.
After the confession, Fisha is surprised by Fikri, who suddenly visits Yogyakarta. From this moment onward, the story and dialogue become a little bit cheesy, with Fikri showing another side of himself ' one full of sweet words to win Fisha's heart.
Not wasting any time, Fikri immediately asks Fisha's mother to give him permission to marry her.
As the two grow closer, Hamzah finally learns that Fisha is in love with another man.
Fikri's choice to marry Fisha, as predicted, is rejected by his mother as she plans to match him with a woman of her choice. He disobeys her, and sticks to his decision.
Fast forward, after the Cinderella-like story where a prince meets his princess, and the plot thickens.
Futile attempt: Fisha stops teaching at a kindergarten to take care of her health and prevent a miscarriage in her second pregnancy.
Fisha has a miscarriage, and Fikri's mother begins her mission to match him again with another woman. Determined to fall pregnant again, Fisha decides to resign as a kindergarten teacher so she can look after her health.
When she falls pregnant for the second time, she stays at home, with a nurse taking care of all her needs.
Nevertheless, she suffers another miscarriage. Fisha blames herself for it, but Fikri assures her that it's not her fault.
Fisha then decides to return home to Yogyakarta, seeking consolation from her mother, but when she returns to Jakarta, she gets sick, and is diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Despite the over-dramatization in some parts of the story, the 130-minute film is quite easy to follow.
The film also shows a great depth of emotion among its cast.
Richard and Dewi play their roles well in portraying an in-love couple, while at the same time giving soul to their characters.
While Morgan, a former member of boyband SM*SH, does well enough in depicting a naive young man who later develops into a more mature man. Ingrid Widjajanarko, who plays Fikri's secretary, adds some entertaining parts to the film, allowing the audience to feel some light relief.
The movie, scheduled to hit theaters nationwide on Oct. 22, is rich with pastel colors, and Hestu presents engaging, but not exaggerated, shots that cleverly distinguish the film from others.
But can Hestu really repeat the success of Hanung Bramantyo with Ayat-Ayat Cinta? Maybe not yet.
Marriage of choice: Fikri decides to marry Fisha against the will of his mother, who is set on matchmaking Fikri with a woman of her choice.
' Photos courtesy of Tujuh Bintang Sinema
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Air Mata Surga (Tujuh Bintang Sinema; 130 minutes)
Producers: Agung Saputra, Dave Gerald
Director: Hestu Saputra
Cast: Dewi Sandra, Richard Kevin, Morgan Oey, Adhitya Putri, Ayu Dyah Pasha, Roweina
Scriptwriters: Lintang Pramudya Wardani, Rahabi Mandra, Titien Watimena
