As a sequel, Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan 2 (The Undesired Bliss) adds more elements to the original story authored by novelist Asma Nadia, making for a complicated religious-romantic drama.

It would be difficult to watch this movie without referencing the previous one, a box office success that won awards for best film, actors and soundtrack in 2015 and 2016.

The first film revolves around the polygamous marriage of Pras (Fedi Nuril), his wife Arini (Laudya Cynthia Bella) and Meirose (Raline Shah).

Meirose is depicted as a suicidal woman who falls pregnant out of wedlock. Pras saves her from a suicide attempt and she eventually converts to Islam as she takes up Pras’ offer of marriage (for the sake of the baby) without his wife’s consent.

Arini, who is still flustered by her own father’s polygamous marriage, which was revealed upon his death, is furious when she finds out about Pras and Meirose, but later she and her daughter Nadia (Sandrinna Michelle) accept Pras’ second family. Meirose, however, chooses to leave with her son Akbar (Keefe Bazli Ardiansyah) — an ending that begins the next story.

In the sequel, Arini, a children’s book author and storyteller, departs for Budapest for a book promotion event with Nadia and her assistant (played by Malaysian actress Nora Danish). At a book signing, she meets Hungarian-Indonesian oncologist Syarief (Reza Rahadian).

At another occasion, at a mosque in Budapest, Arini by chance runs into Meirose who is striving to be a good single parent for Akbar by running a store while being an active member of an association of Indonesian Muslims living in the country.

Soon afterwards, Arini meets the oncologist again, this time as a critical patient. She refuses any medical treatment and instead makes a bucket list with only one item on it: reuniting Pras and Meirose — not knowing that her husband was determined to release Meirose from the binding marriage oath and that the latter was in a romantic relationship with her doctor.

It’s an incredibly complex love square which, in a matter of few days, has to remove two people from the picture. There are some sad scenes, obviously made to repeat the success of the previous movie, but the despair supposedly felt by the characters does not come across.

Other main characters aside from Arini do not have enough time to explore their hidden emotions when loved ones plan out the future for them. The only touching scene is when Pras, who joins his family in Budapest for a business trip, tries to convince Arini that he and Nadia will be alright, just the two of them.

If the original story shows how submissive female characters can be in a patriarchal society, here everyone can be hopelessly obedient — a situation I truly hope only happens in movies.

The script was written by Alim Sudio, with contributions from director Hanung Bramantyo and producer Manoj Punjabi — all men, bear in mind. Hanung, who has many successful religious-themed movies under his belt, took the helm from Kuntz Agus Nugroho.

Cinematically, the film is comfortable to watch with some notes to the artistic and editing teams. There was no need to put a fruit basket on the bedside table just to add some color to the monotone hospital room, while the illusion used to emphasize Arini’s fainting scene is unnecessary because it’s clear that she didn’t have blurred vision prior to it.

The cast is decent and the lively appearances of Nora Danish, Muhadkly Acho, Kemal Palevi and Tanta Ginting make sitting through the two-hour movie easier.

Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan 2 is a nice example of how religious-themed movies that reigned in recent years are evolving for greater acceptance. But whether it’s a good strategy for business, only time will tell.

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‘Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan 2’

(MD Pictures, 121 minutes)

Director: Hanung Bramantyo

Scriptwriter: Alim Sudio, Hanung Bramantyo, Manoj Punjabi

Cast: Laudya Cynthia Bella, Fedi Nuril, Raline Shah, Reza Rahadian, Sandrinna Michelle, Tanta Ginting, Nora Danish, Kemal Palevi and Muhadkly Acho.