National film dilemma

National film dilemma

From Media Indonesia

I would like to join those who have expressed their concern
about the Indonesian film industry. There is a lot of truth in
the view that the film world has hit rock bottom in the past four
years. In that period, very few quality films were made. Among
the exceptions were several film entitled Badut-Badut Kota (City
Clowns) by Ucik Supra, and Surat Untuk Bidadari (Letter To an
Angel) by Garin Nugroho, a futile attempt to fill the void.

The situation has been aggravated by the appearance of films
loaded with sex. To mention a few recent titles: Gairah Malam
(Night Passion), Ranjang Pemikat (Seductive Bed), Kenikmatan Tabu
(Forbidden Pleasure), Gairah Yang Nakal (Naughty Passions), and
lastly, Ranjang Cinta (Love Bed). They featured torrid love
scenes. The plot seem to be an afterthought. The emphasis is on
the female body.

I'm sad to say that these films dominate second class theater
programs. Such sexy films attract people in droves, and they do
not mind queueing. Viewers are of all ages, teenagers, underaged
children, old people, it doesn't matter.

Despite objections from groups protesting such films, the flow
of soft-porn films has not at all abated. Witness the
announcements of future films and the alluring posters in front
of cinemas.

I don't understand why such films are being shown to a moral
public. Should we probe the problem and unearth the sleazy
attitudes of those responsible, the producers, theater owners,
the National Censorship Body, the Ministry of Information, and
the audience? Is it possible that the interest for passion and
money still take precedence over moral concerns? Poet Emha Ainun
Nadjib was quite right to bring up the subject in one of the
Jakarta dailies. He said that today's films are contributing to
the "decomposition of the nation."

I belong to those who oppose such films. How do we go about
organizing this mess?

SATRIA HADI LUBIS

Jakarta