Garin's 'Rindu Kami Padamu' named Best Asian Movie
Garin's 'Rindu Kami Padamu' named Best Asian Movie
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Garin Nugroho's 7th feature film, Rindu Kami Padamu (Of Love and
Eggs) was named The Best Film in the 7th Osian's Cinefan Asian
Film Festival on Sunday in New Delhi, India, outshining 120
movies from 30 countries in Asia.
"Rindu Kami Padamu was singled out as the best Asian film due
to its daily humanism and religious aspects that convey modest
tolerance through a simple story that is full of humor, which is
rare in movies about Islam," the jury commented in a press
release made available on Monday.
"This movie is meaningful in a world full of conflicts," the
jury added.
Due to his tight schedule in making another movie on Aceh,
Garin, the director, could not attend the festival, so counselor
for communications Dalton Sembiring at the Indonesian Consulate
General in New Delhi received the award on behalf of Garin.
In the press release issued by Garin's production house, SET
Production, Garin said that he included humor in his seventh
movie because in the past 10 years he saw Islamic movies in
international festivals always conveyed stories on violence,
poverty, gender issue, refugees, and the life of Muslims in
Europe.
"Islam has become serious, without humor," he said.
Rindu Kami Padamu was screened in Indonesian theaters in the
second half of 2004 during the fasting month.
Among last year's other Indonesian movies, which mostly
targeting youngsters, Rindu Kami Padamu did not do very well, as
it stayed in major theaters for less than two weeks, despite its
artistic quality and poignant story.
The movie is set against the backdrop of a small wet market,
where three children and their parents spend their lives. The
three try to search for their loved ones through eggs, prayer
mats and mosque's minaret.
Seasoned players Didi Petet, Jaja Miharja and Neno Warisman
star in the movie.
Osian's Cinefan Festival is organized by Sinemaya magazine, a
reputable and the longest-established Indian magazine on Asian
films.
Besides being screened in Osian's, Rindu Kami Padamu was also
screened at several film festivals in Rotterdam, Singapore and
San Fransisco.
It will tour Cinemanila in the Philippines in August, to
Vancouver in October and to the Pusan International Film
Festival, South Korea, in October; Haifa, Israel, in October and
Asiatica in Italy in November.