JP/8/DAY

JP/8/DAY

City of Rome Award goes to RI's 'Night in the Daytime'

Emmy Fitri The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Young filmmakers, who are struggling to make a name for themselves in Indonesia's depressed industry, might find that acclamation awaits them overseas.

Director Lukitasari W. Sunowo -- known here as a competent director of television ads -- is among those Indonesians who have been awarded at overseas film festivals.

Last month Lukitasari, affectionately known as Luki, was honored by the annual Asiatica Film Mediale when her short film, Night in the Daytime, was selected as the winner of the City of Rome Award. Last year, celebrated filmmaker Garin Nugroho -- also of Indonesia -- received the same award.

Night in the Daytime relates the deceptively simple life of an elderly couple, who share their house with their pet cat. Their only child has left home and lives somewhere out of town.

The Javanese couple (played by amateurs Tien Djohan and Ignatius Wahono) encounter a problem and, driven by the words of Margaret Willour, "Old age needs so little, but needs that little so much," are forced to make a few decisions about their future.

The relationship between husband and wife is used by Luki as a means of conveying and commenting on present-day national affairs.

The City of Rome Award in an annual award for the best short film screened during the Asiatica Film Mediale -- an Asia/European film festival.

A graduate of the New York Film Academy, Luki was commended for her skills as a director -- using a simple story to talk about complex psychological conflicts, and hiring little-known actors.

Night in the Daytime was also screened here during the 2003 Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest 2003). -- JP