The 200-seat capacity studio was packed, and as the film started, people were still queuing outside, hoping for canceled tickets.

The enthusiasm was not surprising. People were curious to see the film, since it had won prestigious international awards before premiering in Indonesia.

Yosep “Anggi” Noen had already garnered a lot of attention. His artistic approach—the non-straightforward narrative, slow-paced and minimal dialogue—was celebrated by an audience looking for an approach beyond the mainstream formula. His previous feature film, Solo, Solitude (2016), based on the life of poet-activist Wiji Thukul, was seen by more than 50,000 viewers - a notable number for an indie film.

But the euphoria seemed to subside once The Science of Fictions hit local cinemas on Dec. 9, 2020. It was among the first films in Indonesia to be screened after nine months of cinemas being closed.

The film was seen by no more than 6,500 viewers, staying barely a month in cinemas already short of movies.

“Regular screenings were attended by fewer than 10 people per session. I also […] received reports, through social media, from people who found themselves to be the only person in the audience,” Anggi said.

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