RECTOVERSO

Directors: Marcella Zalianty, Rachel Maryam, Olga Lidya, Happy Salma and Cathy Sharon

Starring: Lukman Sardi, Prisia Nasution, Dewi Irawan, Sophia Latjuba, Tio Pakusadewo, Acha Septriasa, Fauzi Baadila, Asmirandah, Widyawati, Marcell Domits

Running time: 110 min

According to wikipedia: "The recto and verso are respectively the "front" and "back" sides of a leaf of paper in a bound item such as a codex, book, broadsheet, or pamphlet. In languages written from left to right (such as English) the recto is the right-hand page and the verso the left-hand page. These are terms of art in the binding, printing, and publishing industries, and can be applied more broadly to any field where physical documents are exchanged."

This one is adapted from the book (a collection of short stories) of the same name, written by Dewi Lestari, a well known writer who is also a singer. I myself haven't read the book (the book itself has 11 short stories, but this film only adapt five of them).

In general, this one is an omnibus since each adaptation was made by different director. But what makes it strong (and a clever thing to patch some weak segments) is how the seamless editing was done. It feels like Cloud Atlas to me, in a good way.

Had it been obviously split like chapters on a book, then the viewers will have a clear opinion which segment is good and which is not. The choice to mixed all segments by clever editing is a good choice.

Omnibus itself are a new trend in indonesian movie scene, last year I have seen Hi5teria (a horror movie) and then there is Jakarta Hati (which I haven't seen at all) and 3Sum (I haven't seen this one too).

The five segments are (hold your breath); Malaikat juga Tahu (Angel Knows), directed by Marcella Zalianty with Lukman Sardi as Abang, an autistic guy striving for love of Leia (Prisia Nasution). Abang lives with his mother in a boarding house and I can't help to make a Star Wars connection with this segment as another character named Hans (Marcell Domits), the brother of Abang. So Hans and Leia in a boarding house? Seems legit. This segment is the strongest, Lukman Sardi gave a brilliant performance as an autistic person and the story is good.

The second one is Firasat (Premonition) directed by Rachel Maryam. Senja (Asmirandah) is a girl with sixth sense. he joins a prophetic club named Firasat that looks like an AA meeting where she fall in love with Panca (Dwi Sasono), the club leader. As for myself this segment feels weird, What on earth is Firasat club? A cult? A discussion group? Political movement? Such AA meting style is not common in Indonesia, that is why I feel disconnected. Perhaps it would be better to include another Star Wars reference here.

Curhat Buat Sahabat (Stories for my best friend) is directed by Olga Lydia. This one can also be titled "Friendzoned" where Amanda (Acha Septriasa) a damsell half distressed, have problems with guys she is dating and as they met in a cafe, she learns that her best friend, Reggie (Indra Birowo) is actually the one who loves her from beginning. This segment is also strong with good acting and I love how simple this one can be. I bet so many men out there have been in Reggie's position and can connect with this sort of story.

Hanya Isyarat (It’s Only a Sign) directed by Happy Salma is a disappointment. The whole story can work in written form, but as visual it fails. How come Al (Amanda Soekasah) who travel with other five guys have never seen Raga's (Hamish Daud) eye all this time? It feels weird. If this is a metaphor of courage to see the one you love then it feels that there is something missing. Actually it can be better if some transitional scenes were inserted to make the interaction between Al and the other male traveler have more soul to it.

Then come the weakest segment of all, Cicak di Dinding (Gecko on the Wall) by Cathy Sharon. It's not bad since the acting from Yama Carlos as Taja, a quiet painter who met Saras (Sophia Latjuba) in a bar and constantly reminded of her is good. So was with Sophia Latjuba who looks beautiful and amazing. But the story lack of logic. How long since the first one night stand and another meeting happened? What happened in between? What sort of person Taja is? The interaction is too fast to be believed. It need some transitional scenes to show that a certain time has passed. It doesn't have to be filled with verbal but several simple scenes can make this segment better.

In general this one is not a disappointment, the scenes are all equally beautiful and smooth but it can be better. Pushing the theme 'unspoken love' and filled with catchy songs, this is a decent film to watch and I think the rest of the short stories in the book can be adapted into another omnibus.