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Watch and learn: Portraying sexual, gender issues in Indonesian film
It is heartening to witness homegrown talents utilizing their art to start a public conversation about delicate issues that we usually overlook, either because they’re too complicated or too upsetting to talk about.
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The winning team: Actors, actresses and production crew members of the movie Penyalin Cahaya, or Photocopier for its international release, gather for a photo session after winning 12 Citra Awards in the 2021 Indonesian Film Festival on Nov. 10, 2021 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Senayan, Central Jakarta. (Courtesy of /Instagram @penyalincahaya)
I
t’s always encouraging to see how much Indonesian films have progressed in the past two years, despite the unprecedented pains and problems faced by the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With new faces bringing their fresh ideas on board, we may expect a smooth transition between generations and thus more quality films that speak to both local and global audiences.
What’s even more heartening is witnessing these homegrown talents utilizing their art to start a public conversation about delicate issues that we usually overlook, either because they’re too complicated or too upsetting to talk about.
Penyalin Cahaya, or Photocopier for its international release, is among the films that have achieved this purpose.
The film, co-written and helmed by young filmmaker Wregas Bhanuteja, won a dozen Citra Awards, Best Feature Film and Best Director included, at the Indonesia Film Festival (FFI) last year and in January landed a distribution rights deal with a global streaming platform.
Aside from some elements and scenes that don't really work well in the whodunit-themed film, the storyline keeps it together.
It tackles the topic of sexual and gender-based violence taking place on a university campus, putting the plight of the victim front and center.
