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.