British films: Free, monthly and back again

British films: Free, monthly and back again

JAKARTA (JP): The hard-working taxpayers of Britain, whether
they know it or not, are inviting anyone who wants to come to the
cinema. On a once-a-month basis.

Their generosity is being channeled through Indonesia's
British Council, fulfilling the part of its mission to showcase
"the best in modern British arts". And, of more direct relevance
to the aforementioned taxpayers, promoting Britain as a cool
study or tourist destination.

Pusat Perfilman Haji Usmar Ismail (PPHUI) on Jl. Rasuna Said,
South Jakarta, has been chosen as the venue for the screenings.
The country's film theater, it has a purpose-built auditorium
with 500 seats. Mindful of the spectacular success of the Jakarta
International Film Festival, full houses are expected.

Eying the demands of increasingly film-literate Indonesian
audiences fed up with Hollywood blockbusters, the films will,
according to the council, represent the "best of British (films),
not necessarily the newest". Those wanting to see the latest
films are advised to wait for the British Film Festival,
scheduled for the first week of July at Taman Izmail Marzuki arts
center (TIM).

Tickets for all the showings are free. In a bid to stop people
from taking tickets and not using them, however, advance bookings
can only be made by members of PPHUI's Kine Club. Filmgoers are
strongly advised to book in advance, though they may also try
their luck one hour before the films are shown.

First up, on March 25 and March 26, are three romantic
comedies. A month later, the theme is coming of age, with the
highly acclaimed Hope and Glory and Venus Peter, followed by, at
the end of May, a weekend devoted to the fantastic worlds of
Terry Gilliam.

Martha meet Frank, Daniel and Lawrence is the first of this
weekend's offerings. Martha, a feisty but dippy American girl,
arrives in London on a mission to start a new life. On the plane
she meets Daniel, a successful young music executive; at Heathrow
airport she meets his friend Laurence. Shortly later, she meets
their buddy Frank, an out of work actor. Unbeknownst to each
other, all three fall quickly and completely in love with her,
something that tests their friendship and results in some amusing
situations.

Shot almost entirely in London, the film at times appears as
if it might have been made by the British tourist board, such are
the amount of shots of the city and its buildings, parks and
landmarks. These serve to flesh out the plot, which at times is a
little too twee for comfort. All said, it is easy watching, with
just enough quirkiness (watch out for the psychiatrist) and real
laughs to recommend it. It will be shown on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Bahji on the Beach (a bahji is an Indian snack) has more bite
to it. Recounting a trip to the traditional seaside town of
Blackpool by an Indian women's community group, it manages to be
funny, thought provoking and moving. Its central device --
juxtaposing a quintessentially English day out and setting with a
group of traditionally dressed Indian women with all the
preconceptions of their behavior -- is handled sensitively, and
is used to comment on and poke fun at both cultures.

Written and directed by an Indian woman, the film explores
contentious issues within her community, in particular by
focusing on the lives of the diverse community group. The degree
of assimilation between the cultures, the differing views of
older immigrants and the younger ones, to whom India is a faraway
country, and abusive husbands are all explored. It is a feel-good
movie first and foremost though, from its opening version of
Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday in Punjabi to its happy ending.
Highly recommend and showing on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at
5 p.m.

Peter's Friends, the last of this weekend's shows, has an all-
star cast, boasting the comic duo of Stephen Fry and Hugh Lawrie.
The latter plays the owner of a country house where six members
of a university cabaret troupe stage a 10-year reunion. Each of
the characters brings along a problem: a rocky marriage,
infidelity and loneliness, among others, which combine, come to a
head and provide the film with its humor.

The increasingly hostile nature of the gathering is only
forgotten when Peter makes a shock announcement toward the film's
end, which serves to bring the group as close as they once were.
The British middle-classes, with their hang-ups, conceits and
insecurities, are on display for all to see, though the film
never explicitly criticizes them. It is, instead, content to
remain a good-natured farce. Showing on Saturday at 5 p.m. and
Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

All films have no subtitles.

-- Chris Brummit