'Prayer in the Moonlight' series airing postponed

'Prayer in the Moonlight' series airing postponed

By Marselli Sumarno

JAKARTA (JP): At last Philippine President Fidel Ramos banned
the showing of The Sarah Balabagan Story. The film on the woman
who became a defendant in a "self-defense murder" case had been
earmarked for simultaneous release in a number of prominent
theaters in Metro Manila on March 12. The show was postponed
indefinitely.

One of the reasons for the postponement was the fear of
disturbing diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the
United Arab Emirates. In Indonesia, a film series on women
working in Saudi Arabia, Prayer in the Moonlight, was scheduled
to be shown March 11 on RCTI. But its airing was postponed due to
"technical reasons".

So what's really going on?

The TV series produced by actress/producer Marissa Haque and
funded by the Ministry of Manpower was actually finished a few
months ago. Its original title was Moonlight over Medina and it
consisted of 25 30-minute episodes. However, a protest was
submitted by the Saudi Arabian Kingdom via its ambassador in
Indonesia, who objected to airing the series on television. The
reasons cited were many, including shooting without a permit in
Saudi Arabia and scenes not in accordance with Arab culture.

Certain scenes were edited and the title changed. The
government's censorship board then gave its approval. It was not
surprising that Marissa Haque, who also plays the leading role in
the film series, was optimistic that the series would finally be
shown. The facts, however, turned out different.

The intention of the Ministry of Manpower to produce Prayer in
the Moonlight was to give information to women wanting to work
abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia. Many women workers are known to
have experienced problems over there, causing numerous headaches
to the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower.

Furthermore, Prayer in the Moonlight, directed by Dimas
Haring, does not limit itself to the hard lot of women workers in
Saudi Arabia, it also tells about work ethics.

Left by her husband, Suharti (played by Marissa Haque) is
compelled to seek work in Saudi Arabia to support herself and her
son. Once there she works as a maid servant for the Anwar family.

The first days Suharti is treated arbitrarily by all members
of the family. But thanks to her courage and ability to take a
stance and do her work well, she finally earns their respect.

After her contract is up, Suharti returns to Indonesia to find
her son missing. He was taken away by her former husband to
Jakarta. During her struggle to look for her child, Suharti works
in a garment factory. She is later discharged from the company
for having led fellow workers in a protest action.

Together with a former factory worker who was also dismissed,
Suharti sets up a small enterprise. The two fall in love. The
company develops rapidly and Suharti becomes a successful
businesswoman. Meanwhile, her former husband has something evil
in mind. With their child in the balance, he asks for a position
in her company.

Conflicts occur, but Suharti's former husband is caught by the
police and made to sign the divorce papers. Also foiled by the
police are the attempts of his cronies, who were planning to
illegally send women workers to Saudi Arabia.

Prayer in the Moonlight differs greatly from The Sarah
Balabagan Story. The latter is based on a factual story, while
the former is intended as informative material interspersed with
dramatic conflicts. It was inevitable that the initial episodes
would contain scenes depicting the employers' cruel treatment of
women workers from Indonesia. The problem is that of proportion.

Some of those who have seen the film series are worried that
it could produce a controversy similar to that surrounding The
Sarah Balabagan Story, i.e. the disruption of diplomatic
relations. But if it is not shown, the financial losses will be
borne by the manpower ministry, which provided funding, and RCTI,
which bought the telecast rights. There will be the additional
moral loss of a failed mission.

Anyhow, Marissa Haque as the producer remains optimistic that
her film series with famous actors like Mieke Wijaya, Sandy
Nayoan and Farouk Afero will be aired. RCTI public relations
manager Eduard Depari is also hopeful but, as he told the Pos
Film tabloid, Prayer in the Moonlight may have to wait another
five months before airing.