Now Showing: Pachinko and Everyone's Happy

Pachinko and Everyone's Happy (Drama, 87 minutes). Starring Harry Suharyadi, Sugira Ikumi, Kazuko Hayami, Emiko Minami.

It is such a relief to learn that not all emerging Indonesian filmmakers are only interested in producing ridiculous action, hip-wannabe movies which they rip off from their favorite Hollywood films.

This movie, for example, really has a story to tell. Set in Tokyo, the film tells the story of a girl named Maki who dreams of having bigger eyes, which she believes would make her more attractive.

Realizing that neither she nor her family will ever be able to afford the operation to make her dream come true, Maki decides to work as a porn star.

The family eventually discovers what she is doing, and soon their lives are cluttered with complications.

Maki then moves out of her parents' house to live with her Indonesian boyfriend (played by the film's director, Suharyadi).

The movie was shot on video during Suharyadi's nine-month scholarship program in Japan. While it still has many rough edges, this stellar effort points to a very exciting future for the young director. **