'Prayer in the Moonlight' series airing postponed<\/p>\n
By Marselli Sumarno<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At last Philippine President Fidel Ramos banned
\nthe showing of The Sarah Balabagan Story. The film on the woman
\nwho became a defendant in a \"self-defense murder\" case had been
\nearmarked for simultaneous release in a number of prominent
\ntheaters in Metro Manila on March 12. The show was postponed
\nindefinitely.<\/p>\n
One of the reasons for the postponement was the fear of
\ndisturbing diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the
\nUnited Arab Emirates. In Indonesia, a film series on women
\nworking in Saudi Arabia, Prayer in the Moonlight, was scheduled
\nto be shown March 11 on RCTI. But its airing was postponed due to
\n\"technical reasons\".<\/p>\n
So what's really going on?<\/p>\n
The TV series produced by actress\/producer Marissa Haque and
\nfunded by the Ministry of Manpower was actually finished a few
\nmonths ago. Its original title was Moonlight over Medina and it
\nconsisted of 25 30-minute episodes. However, a protest was
\nsubmitted by the Saudi Arabian Kingdom via its ambassador in
\nIndonesia, who objected to airing the series on television. The
\nreasons cited were many, including shooting without a permit in
\nSaudi Arabia and scenes not in accordance with Arab culture.<\/p>\n
Certain scenes were edited and the title changed. The
\ngovernment's censorship board then gave its approval. It was not
\nsurprising that Marissa Haque, who also plays the leading role in
\nthe film series, was optimistic that the series would finally be
\nshown. The facts, however, turned out different.<\/p>\n
The intention of the Ministry of Manpower to produce Prayer in
\nthe Moonlight was to give information to women wanting to work
\nabroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia. Many women workers are known to
\nhave experienced problems over there, causing numerous headaches
\nto the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Prayer in the Moonlight, directed by Dimas
\nHaring, does not limit itself to the hard lot of women workers in
\nSaudi Arabia, it also tells about work ethics.<\/p>\n
Left by her husband, Suharti (played by Marissa Haque) is
\ncompelled to seek work in Saudi Arabia to support herself and her
\nson. Once there she works as a maid servant for the Anwar family.<\/p>\n
The first days Suharti is treated arbitrarily by all members
\nof the family. But thanks to her courage and ability to take a
\nstance and do her work well, she finally earns their respect.<\/p>\n
After her contract is up, Suharti returns to Indonesia to find
\nher son missing. He was taken away by her former husband to
\nJakarta. During her struggle to look for her child, Suharti works
\nin a garment factory. She is later discharged from the company
\nfor having led fellow workers in a protest action.<\/p>\n
Together with a former factory worker who was also dismissed,
\nSuharti sets up a small enterprise. The two fall in love. The
\ncompany develops rapidly and Suharti becomes a successful
\nbusinesswoman. Meanwhile, her former husband has something evil
\nin mind. With their child in the balance, he asks for a position
\nin her company.<\/p>\n
Conflicts occur, but Suharti's former husband is caught by the
\npolice and made to sign the divorce papers. Also foiled by the
\npolice are the attempts of his cronies, who were planning to
\nillegally send women workers to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Prayer in the Moonlight differs greatly from The Sarah
\nBalabagan Story. The latter is based on a factual story, while
\nthe former is intended as informative material interspersed with
\ndramatic conflicts. It was inevitable that the initial episodes
\nwould contain scenes depicting the employers' cruel treatment of
\nwomen workers from Indonesia. The problem is that of proportion.<\/p>\n
Some of those who have seen the film series are worried that
\nit could produce a controversy similar to that surrounding The
\nSarah Balabagan Story, i.e. the disruption of diplomatic
\nrelations. But if it is not shown, the financial losses will be
\nborne by the manpower ministry, which provided funding, and RCTI,
\nwhich bought the telecast rights. There will be the additional
\nmoral loss of a failed mission.<\/p>\n
Anyhow, Marissa Haque as the producer remains optimistic that
\nher film series with famous actors like Mieke Wijaya, Sandy
\nNayoan and Farouk Afero will be aired. RCTI public relations
\nmanager Eduard Depari is also hopeful but, as he told the Pos
\nFilm tabloid, Prayer in the Moonlight may have to wait another
\nfive months before airing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prayer-in-the-moonlight-series-airing-postponed-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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