Lesson for filmmakers

Lesson for filmmakers

From Warta Kota

I recalled with the review of an Iranian film, Children of
Heaven in VCD format that Warta Kota published on Nov. 28 that
this film had been screened in a number of cinemas in Jakarta for
several months.

My friends and I went to see the film to prove to ourselves
that even a Third-World country with by a major social problem
could still produce a good film.

This film directed by a young woman, Majid Majidi, is an
honest and realistic story about poor families and not just an
aimless sermon on poverty. The director has truthfully depicted
the social reality in Iran.

It is obvious that with this film, Majid Majidi has shown the
world that creative processes as part of cultural work is still
going on in Iran.

My friends and I often wonder why we cannot make a film like
Children of Heaven. It is true we have a very popular film for
children, Petualangan Sherina by Myra Lesmana, but its quality is
not on a par with Children of Heaven. We also have a good TV
series for children, Keluarga Cemara. That is all. What we keep
hearing from the people in the film industry are their complaints
or power struggles, like in Parfi, the association of film stars.

The question remains: When can our film workers make a film
comparable in quality with Children of Heaven?

LUQMAN HARRIS

Jakarta