SOKOLA RIMBA

Directed by: Riri Riza
Starring: Prisia Nasution, Beindah, Dery Tanjung, Ines Somellera, Nengkabau, Nyungsang Bungo    
Run Time: 90 Minutes

Actually I was afraid of this film. I was afraid that this one will shove down shallow nationalism down my throat. I am afraid that this one will bu just another Indonesian movie trying so hard to force the viewers to love their country not in a subtle way.

But my fears were proven to be wrong. After all this is Riri Riza (backed by Mira Lesmana again as the producer), not just some generic director. He managed to escape that sort of "crass nationalism" in Atambua 39 Degrees Celsius. The title itself means "School of the jungle" and jungle is where most of the actions are.

Based on true story, Butet Manurung (Prisia Nasution) is a teacher for children of the Kubu tribe (indigenious people in Jambi, Sumatera) located in National Park Bukit Dua Belas Jambi. She teaches the kids how to count and to read, a skill most of them are not good at. The kids are nice and eager to learn more. But problems arose from Butet's office and political conditions affect her work. She wanted the kids to be smart and literate, but the obstacle is not just from her office, some people from Kubu tribe thinks of her as a jinx. Can she overcome that? Butet herself has wrote a book about her activity. The book has the same title as this film.

I have to say this film is well done. I know it must be difficult to shoot in the National Park itself. Not to mention directing real Kubu kids to act. They are not professional actors, they are the Kubu people living in the national park.

What I like from this one is how natural things are. It does not have over the top dialogue preaching about education, and it also does not condemn government. Sokola Rimba is special because only few Indonesian films are willing to show folks in the town another face of Indonesia. Not just the acting, but the cinematography manages to capture the forest in a warm visual. However the duration is too short and it feels as if everything was rushed to achieve the ending. I wish it was at least two hours.

EPIC JAVA

Directed by: Febian Nurrahman Saktinegara
Writer: Galih Mulya Nugraha
Run Time: 30 minutes

This film has no connection to Java Heat whatsoever, programming language or a cup of coffee. This is a short documentary made by Febian Nurrahman Saktinegara. It has no story, just a non-narrative short documentary about the beautiful Java landscape. Some by live video, some by time-lapse. According to the site jakartavenue.com this project started as Febian Nurrahman Saktinegara went to Jogja for a holiday.

He shoot some scenes and upload a teaser video titled Mysterious Ashes - Epic Java in youtube. From there, things escalated quickly. This project once was a hot thread in kaskus.com (Indonesia's leading internet forum) and then it goes to wujudkan.com (crowdfunding site), to get more money so Epic Java can be made.

Febian cooperated with Arie Naftali Hawuhede, Galih Mulya Nugraha and Denny Novandi Ryan (as music composer and sound designer). This small team visited 50 locations across Java and spent one year filming a lot of things. According to Galih the story start as the sun rises in the east until it set in the west.

With minimal gadgets and cameras they managed to give a beautiful presentation. I have to say, after I seen this at Jakarta International Film Festival two weeks ago, that it met my expectation. The music is amazing, it can fill up the air with wonders.

Somehow Epic Java reminded me of Ron Fricke's Chronos, Samsara, Baraka and Koyaaniqsatsi. I can understand the limitations the crew had so this one is just a short documentary. I applaud their spirit and creativity to make the project possible. I feel lucky to be able to watch it. If only this one is more than 30 minutes and released commercially at the cinemas, perhaps more people can appreciate it better.

GRAVITY

Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: George Clooney, Sandra Bullock

Run Time: 91 min

Space, the final frontier. This time Alfonso Cuarón visit the outer space to gives us the eerie thrill of being alone, literally. Not a science fiction or a politically charged theme, but a simple tale of survival. Some might relate this one with 2001: A Space Odyssey for the space scenes. Actually I have seen this two months ago but decided to write this now so later I can put a link on my best 2013 movies article.

Just like the title, this one will drag you here and there, even gasping for breath. Space debris threat the astronaut in space left Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) floating in space. Alone and lost, they have to survive to stay alive. What happened with the other astronaut? Sadly they are dead.

The visual is amazing, it makes you scratch your head and say: "How the fuck does Cuarón put camera in space?". Here, visual effect plays a major role. It takes you into space and in 3D it looks amazing.

Created through a painstaking combination of physical and digital performance, I think it might get a nomination for best visual effects at the Oscar next year. What about the story? I think the story is just okay. It is not "amazing", although some scenes left you breathless, it is just okay. Sure any male would relish seeing that Sandra Bullock still look sexy at that age, but the story of survival seems a bit "made up".

Some know that the orbit of Hubble Telescope, International Space Station and other space objects are not of the same height. However the story make it as if it was "near". It is not a problem for me, but I think I expect more from Gravity. I expect a slightly philosophical tone, which is non existence here. Okay you can say that the loneliness here is something philosophical. However as a whole this is a good film, but not "the best" from Alfonso Cuarón.