Garin charts nation's growth in his films

Garin charts nation's growth in his films

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

And The Moon Dances: The Film of Garin
Collection of essays on Garin Nugroho
PT Bentang Pustaka
244 pp

Watching Garin Nugroho's films like reading an honest account of every message the filmmaker wants to convey. The artistic and the musical elements that accompany the beauty of his films are a constant, without our waiting or expecting how they will be presented.

Overall, his films are always departures from simple themes -- themes that are sometimes too familiar that they have gone unnoticed. And usually when the credits roll and we have left the cinema, silently we nod in agreement with his vision.

And The Moon Dances: The Film of Garin amplifies what we filmgoers -- at home and abroad -- know about the director.

Contributors to this collection are the "who's who" of the film and literary circles: Philip Cheah, Tony Rayns, Krishna Sen, Tadao Sato, Ishizaka Kenji, Seno Gumira Ajidarma, Janet Hoskins, David Hanan and Bambang Sugiharto.

Through their accounts on Garin's works, we glimpse a clearer profile of the filmmaker: how stunningly rebellious and how profoundly creative he is.

Reading this collection of essays also sheds light on the rocky road to the establishment of "national" film as a cultural movement to stand up talk and strong amid the waves of influence led by Western films.

The film industry at home is not as glowing as it looks from the outside. The political upheavals of the 1960s and the years that followed also shaped the way filmmakers poured out their creativity on celluloid.

Before the film industry was caught in the "depression", around the 1970s and 1980s, filmmakers thrived on the rising new social classes -- the middle- and working classes -- who enjoyed going out to watch local films, which were of poor themes and technicality back then.

The film industry was vibrant and progressive until the economic upheaval that began in the mid-1990s.

The rebirth of the industry took place almost at the same time as when the country set its feet on a more democratic path -- the reform era of 1998.

"What's Oppositional in Indonesia Cinema" by Krishna Sen, for example, takes a clear stance on how Garin seized this moment (and even before) to unfold themes that had long gone unnoticed or were off-limits.

In his 1991 film Surat untuk Bidadari (Letter for an angel), Garin pierces together fractured cultures of the least talked- about region of Sumba, West Nusa Tenggara. In his earlier work Cinta Dalam Sepotong Roti (Love in a slice of bread), he even touches upon themes that were too brazen to speak of, like sex and adultery.

The Semarang-born filmmaker is always proving himself by raising unique themes and covering a wide range of issues. His natural and down-to-earth approach to both setting and dialog allows viewers a window into his restless, creative soul and to glean richer insights after watching his films.

David Hanan's "Garin Nugroho: Refusing the Stereotype, Challenges Posed by Indonesia's Filmmaker of the 1990s" commences his essay by posing questions and paradoxes on Garin's works -- that at home, people still find it difficult to understand Garin's films and film distributors detest his hard-to-sell ideas, but enlightened people throng to see his films wherever they are screened.

Hanan also highlights how Garin seriously grooms young people to improve upon their skills. Some have even launched their own directing careers later, like Riri Riza.

Filled with many images from Garin's films, The Moon Dances is not only a nice companion for a movie buff, and a friendly way to understand the broader meaning of being human and humanity -- as Garin has shown us through his works.

Garin's filmography

1985 Hand Clapping (Tepuk Tangan) 1986 Little note of Bumiharjo (Catatan Kecil Bumiharjo) 1986 Land of Challenges (Tanah Tantangan) 1989 Refining the Future (Menyunting Masa Depan) 1992 How Are You (Apa Kabar?) 1993 Water and Romi (Air dan Romi) 1995 Kancil's Tale of Independence (Dongeng Kancil tentang Kemerdekaan) 1996 Paradise (Walter Spies) 1998 Sunaryo 1998 Pak Naim and the Dream of his House (Pak Naim dan Impian Rumahnya) 2001 Water Front (Lajar Hidoep) 2002 ICON Sebuah Peta Budaya (ICON a map of a culture)

Short Films

1981 When Love Passes in front of the House (Saat Cinta Lewat di Depan Rumah) 1984 Angel Looking for Her Wings (Bidadari Mencari Sayap) 1985 Railway Coaches 1, 2, 3 (Gerbong 1,2, 3)

Feature Films 1991 Love in a Slice of Bread (Cinta dalam Sepotong Roti) 1993 Letter to an Angel (Surat Untuk Bidadari) 1995 And the Moon Dances (Bulan Tertusuk Ilalang) 1997 Leaf on a Pillow (Daun di atas Bantal) 1999 The Poet (Puisi Tak Terkuburkan) 2001 Producer (Viva Indonesia) 2002 Bird-Man Tale (Aku Ingin Menciummu Sekali Saja)

TV Documentary Series

1995 Children of a Thousand Islands 2001 Library of Indonesian Children 2002 Seri Remaja Mandiri

Film for Television

1997 The Wind of Savannah Grass