'Fatima,' 'Mat Angin' grap most nominations
JAKARTA (JP): They may not have gained the desired ratings, but teleserials Fatima, Mat Angin, Perkawinan Siti Zubaedah and Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan made up for it by taking the most nominations in the 1997 Festival Sinetron Indonesia.
The official announcement of the five nominations in each of the three sinetron categories -- drama, drama serial and comedy serial -- was made Nov. 9 at private TV station RCTI's studio and televised live on the five TV stations.
Awards will be made on the festival night at Jakarta Convention Center on Dec. 4.
The nominations, selected by a jury, prove that quality sinetron, if nothing else, are given the recognition they deserve.
Comedy Fatima is an enlightening exploration of personalities and humanity different from the overblown depictions of metropolitan lifestyles in many other series.
Fatima tells of the Indonesian core that emanates pragmatism, down-to-earth lifestyles, cutting village humor and beguiling modesty. The serial revolves around a sweet old man, Bab (Bokir), and his lovely widowed daughter Fatima (Chiata Hendrayani).
Director Husein Kusuma pools ethnic strengths and threads together different dialects and picturesque scenes into stories that tell of different Indonesian cultures. Sundanese, Betawi and Batak humor is distinctive of this TV serial.
In director Teguh Karya's Perkawinan Siti Zubaedah, there is quiet strength in every line delivered by Siti Zubaedah (Ayu Azhari) and her emotionally distraught husband Bewok (Alex Komang).
This fuels the underlying educational message: the care and attention that should be given to a wife, particularly during the crucial periods of pregnancy.
The drama focuses on a simple woman, Siti, who does not end up marrying her high-school sweetheart Dudung (Jadi Sapitra), but a confused, irresponsible character whose indifference to life and his wife makes their marital life a living hell.
There are well-shot, detailed snapshots of real life. One has Siti hauling pails of water for a bath, while another has her sweeping garbage in a dirty garage.
Usually complacent Siti evokes pity when she screams at her husband, faints over the excessive loss of blood and the thought of losing her baby: "Go away.. if you don't want to be here, I don't need you either".
Comedy Mat Angin centers on a happy-go-lucky, poor Betawi man, his panicky but kindly Javanese wife, Aryati, and their neighbors. These include the rich and stingy Ceu Odah, and the ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver Sadeli, who loves to boast and is portrayed as irresponsible.
As his name Angin (wind) suggests, the title character listens to only himself as he lets other's opinions pass like the wind. (02)