Monday, January 04, 2010

SANG PEMIMPI



Directed by: Riri Riza
Run time: 128 min

Actually I have seen this film on the first day of the release. But I just have time to write the review right now. So, excuses aside, I have to say this film is inspiring and please, those who have read the book, just stop comparing book to movie okay? It is just plain silly.

How inspiring is this film? Well it inspires you to do the simplest cardio exercise ever, running. Yes, this film features a lot of running scenes by its main actors. It seems every 15 minutes they are running here and there for the sake of simple running or sentimentality.

It must have been very tiring for the actors running here and there in several take. But at least they are healthy. Aside from running, this film is a breathe of fresh air in Indonesian movie scene.

The direct sequel of Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Warriors) is the most anticipated movie in Indonesia. It is the first Indonesian movie to open last year's Jakarta International Film Festival. In case you wonder, Sang Pemimpi is based on the novel of the same title written by Andrea Hirata, the second of four best selling novel of his Laskar Pelangi tetralogy. With fans of the book flocking at the local cinemas, I think the chance of the third book being filmed is positive.

Casting newbies, Riri Riza doesn't shy to experiment with new actors and I have to say the new actors are natural. Not only they are originally from Belitung island, the setting of the story itself, but they can act well.

Continuing Laskar Pelangi, Ikal (Vikri Septiawan for teenage Ikal and Lukman Sardi for adult Ikal). is now a teenager and studying at local high school in Manggar. Ikal befriend Arai (Rendy Ahmad as young Arai and Nazriel Ilham as adult Arai), his distant cousin and Jimbron (Azwir Fitrianto), a teenage who is overly obsessed with horse. The rest of the cast are professionals and they contribute greatly to the quality of the film, especially Mathias Muchus as Ikal's father.

They grow together, with ups and downs in their life, trying to make ends meet and make their parents happy, and to fulfill their dreams. The story continue until Ikal and Arai left Belitung island and stay in Bogor, where they study at the University and still continuing their dream, to go to Sorbonne, France, to study there.

Using 35 mm, this film has a neo-realism approach and it looks so good on the screen, you can see the vibrant life in Manggar, Belitung and the art department is making the film more believable by showing tiny details of 80s Indonesia.

The appearance of Nazriel Ilham, better known in Indonesia as Ariel, the front man of one Indonesia's famous band, Peterpan is not distracting. Unfortunately, he only got 15 minutes of screen time and didn't speak that much. Overall, this film is a must see and after several weeks have garnered 1.5 million Indonesian viewers, a box office according to Indonesian standard and a success considering this film released on the same day as James Cameron's Avatar released in Indonesia.

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