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