Garin's film goes to Tokyo

JAKARTA (JP): Young director Garin Nugroho's third feature film Bulan Tertusuk Ilalang (...And the Moon Dances) will take part in the International Competition Forum of the 8th Tokyo International Film Festival which opens on Friday.

Bulan Tertusuk Ilalang was one of 11 finalists selected from 223 films from 44 countries entered in the Sept. 22 to Oct. 1 festival.

Bulan, a story of a love triangle between a traditional music teacher and his male and female students, is the first Indonesian film to compete in the international festival.

Garin faces tough competition. Other finalists include Der Bewegte Mann (The Most Desired Man) by Sonke Wortmann of Germany, Dolores Clairborne by Taylor Hackford of the U.S., Hotel Sorrento by Richard Franklin of Australia, Eternal Empire by Park Chong- Won of South Korea, Super Citizen Ko by Wan Jen of Taiwan, Killer by Tim Metcalfe of the U.S., and Emergency Call by Kazuki Omori of Japan.

"It will be very tough because I have to compete against established names in the film industry," Garin said.

Garin held a thanksgiving reception to celebrate his film selected in Jakarta on Monday.

The film director did not rate his chances highly.

The film participated in the 40th Asian-Pacific Film festival in Jakarta last July but left prizeless.

His acceptance to the Tokyo festival has added to the list of Garin's achievements.

Last year, his film Surat Untuk Bidadari (Letter for an Angel) won the best film category at the Tokyo Film Festival's Young Competition Forum.

"I do feel appreciated because to join the International Competition Forum of Tokyo Film Festival you should be over 35 years old or have produced at least three films," said Garin who is now 33 years old.

The Tokyo Film Festival has three main forums each year: the International Competition Forum, Young Competition Forum for talented debutantes and Best Asian Films Forum, which is not a competition.

Bulan has not been screened in Indonesian theaters because Garin has not been able to find a distributor. The film is said to be too artistic for the market and therefore a potential commercial flop. (als)