'A movie should have a moral"

The local film industry is enjoying a revival after the 1990s doldrums, with the number of releases increasing over the past five years. But what about the quality? In conjunction with National Film Day on March 30, The Jakarta Post asked residents their opinion of local films.

Ahmad, 27, is a sales executive at a cosmetics importer. He lives with his parents in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta:

Even though a lot of Indonesian films are screened at international festivals, I don't think they portray everyday life here.

Take the hit film Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's up with Love?). After watching the movie, some of my Japanese friends actually thought that all Indonesian high schoolers drove their own cars to school. They then half-jokingly said that if most Jakartans lived as depicted in the film, they would ask their government to stop sending aid.

Other Indonesian films are artistic and have good camera angles, but the stories are too obscure and abstract. A few of the movies try to use spectacular special effects, but they fail miserably because the producers don't have the money, technology or human resources required.

But forget about special effects and cinematography, because to me the most important part of a movie is simply the storyline. For example, the Godfather, which film critics hailed as a masterpiece, did not have many special effects. Nor were famous movie stars of the time used. The powerful and riveting plot was enough to make it an instant hit.

Isma, 25, is a shop attendant in Ambassador Mall in South Jakarta. She lives with her parents in Tebet, also in South Jakarta:

I rarely go to the cinema. Tickets cost too much for me, so I have to be choosy about what movie to see. I usually ask around to see if a film is a waste of money or I read newspaper reviews.

Indonesian movies are often screened, which is a good thing. I like to watch them. Although the storylines are still very simple and don't differ much from local TV soaps, I'm proud that we haven't been left behind by neighboring countries.

I'm not a film critic, but as a consumer I expect a movie to have a moral and not be just about a bunch of spoiled students who never seem to study.

--The Jakarta Post