Joko Anwar: Comedy Sharpens Tension, Horror Unites the Nation
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Director Joko Anwar has dissected the creative process behind his twelfth film produced with Come And See Pictures, “Ghost in the Cell” (Hantu di dalam Penjara).
Speaking to ANTARA after the press conference for the film’s trailer launch in Jakarta on Monday, Joko stressed the importance of character depth and the connection between his films and social realities in Indonesia.
The following are key points from a direct interview with Joko Anwar ahead of his latest film’s release in Indonesian cinemas from 16 April.
Joko Anwar revealed that he writes highly detailed biographies for every cast member, even when the number reaches dozens of characters.
He cited the character Tokek, played by Aming, as an example. Although audiences may perceive the character as villainous, the role has a deeply rooted traumatic backstory.
“Even though he is considered an evil character, he is a fully realised character. He has experienced trauma, for instance. So when he acts the way he does, he has no intention of being evil,” Joko explained.
“Our crew always become cast members too. Ical Tanjung plays a deputy minister — a government official. Does his face suit the role?” Joko said. “And yes, Tony Merle is also in it — he plays a songwriter,” he added.
Joko noted that every film he produces always has two preview versions serving as visual guides or video storyboards. “One version is performed by the actors, and the other is performed by the crew. Our crew all know the dialogue by heart,” he added.
“The comedy here actually sharpens the tension. Because in Indonesia, tension and laughter are essentially a package deal. We often laugh when we’re in trouble. Many of us laugh when we’re nervous. For example, when we’re pulled over by the police during a checkpoint, we go ‘Officer…’ with a grin. So here, it shows that comedy sharpens tension,” said Joko.
Regarding the horror genre, he believes it represents a national identity capable of uniting Indonesia’s diverse ethnic groups. “We are made up of a great many ethnic groups — more than 300. What can unite them as a shared pop culture is horror. So is it effective for delivering a message? Extremely effective,” he affirmed.
“Come And See films always start from what is relevant in society, not from critique. Critique comes later, when we present what is actually happening factually and it turns out to open people’s eyes. It would be a waste if work consumed by so many people were not filled with something important, like speaking out against injustice,” he said.
Following the success of his horror film in being selected for the Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival), Joko Anwar disclosed his upcoming project, which will venture into the romance genre.
“My next project is a romance. It’s already been announced in Glasgow as well. It’s called ‘The Charms of Broken Things’ — about the allure of things that are already broken. It’s currently in development,” he revealed.
Regarding the English-language title “Ghost in the Cell”, he explained it was simply a matter of taste. “There is an Indonesian title — Hantu di dalam Penjara. Indonesians know ‘ghost’, people know ‘cell’. Ghost in the Cell,” Joko concluded.