'Sherina' a film fit for whole family

'Sherina' a film fit for whole family

By Gotot Prakosa

JAKARTA (JP): It's been a long time since movie lovers have
been able to watch a locally produced work fit for the whole
family. The country's film crisis which began in the early 1990s
led to the virtual disappearance of quality movies, including
children's fare, made by domestic filmmakers.

Petualangan Sherina (Sherina's Adventure), starring popular
child singer Sherina, may help to reverse the trend. Beginning
last Wednesday and lasting through the end of the school
holidays, the movie will play in major cities throughout the
country.

With a storyline easily understood by all, including children
from all levels of society, the film boasts a fine graphic
quality, smooth camerawork, neatly constructed scenes and
attractive cinematography. Particularly outstanding are the shots
of mountains, forests and landscapes.

The plot centers on Sherina, the daughter of Darmawan (Mathias
Muchus), a Japanese-educated agronomist. The young girl has to
leave her close friends and move with her family when her father
is hired to tend to the plantations of the Ardiwilaga family.

In her new home on the outskirts of Bandung, Sherina finds
herself thrown into an alien environment. However, she soon
becomes acquainted with the class bully, Sadam (Derby Romero),
who is the son of the Ardiwilagas. His misbehavior is due to
several reasons, including to compensate for his asthma and
because he is spoiled at home.

One day Sherina and her family are invited to stay in the
hillside home of the Ardiwilagas in Lembang. The room is nestled
among plantations, not far from the famed Boscha Observatorium.

The property has long been prized by Kertarajasa (Djaduk
Ferianto) for his business plans. He had instructed a woman named
Natasya (Henidar Amroe) to try to persuade Mrs. Ardiwilaga (Ratna
Riantiarno) to sell the land.

After his scheming failed, Kertarajasa hired Raden (Butet
Kertaredjasa) and his accomplices to kidnap Sadam. The plan is
set for when Sadam and Sherina visit Bosccha.

The advent of the film is refreshing amid the moribund
fortunes of the national film industry. It is also a reminder of
Indonesian children's films of the past. Although few and far
between, there were several works which were popular in the 1950s
through 1970s.

The list includes Si Pintjang (The Lame One/1951) directed by
Kotot Sukardi; Jenderal Kancil (1958), produced by Perfini,
directed by Ny Abbas Akup and starring a young Achmad Albar;
Bintang Kecil (Little Star/1963), produced by PT Aries Film and
Garuda Film, and directed by Wim Umboh.

The trend of a few quality pictures continued in the 1970s.
Rio Anakku (My Son Rio/1973) was produced by PT Rapi Film,
directed by Hasmanan and with Rano Karno. Rano also starred in Si
Doel anak Betawi (Doel the Betawi Boy) the same year, which was
directed by Sjumandjaja and produced by PT Matari Film. Three
years later, there was Chicha, with child actress Chicha
Koeswoyo, directed by Edwart P. Sirait and produced by
International Cine & Studio.

A marked decline in the production of children's films was
evident in the 1980s. Among the few vehicles was Nyoman Cinta
Merah Putih (1989), produced by PT Jentera Sidha Dyatmika and
directed by Judy Soebroto, and, finally, Langitku Rumahku (1991),
produced by Ekapraya Film and directed by Slamet Rahardjo. Both
films were hampered by distribution problems.

Even with the standout films, few locally produced works
played in Indonesian movie theaters in the first half century of
independence. Films directed at children were not considered
profitable and their production process was viewed as difficult.

Still, with the popularity and amount of children's films on
television and licensed and pirated VCDs today, there is hope the
situation has improved.

Petualangan Sherina producer Mira Lesmana (she is also the
wife of Mathias) and director Riri Reza recognized the
difficulties entailed in making a children's movie in the
country.

However, it was a longtime obsession of theirs, and they did
their utmost to realize their goal. Mira provided the story idea
and also wrote the lyrics for the eight songs in the movie.

While a student of film in the School of Film and Television
at the Jakarta Arts Institute (it was also where Mira studied),
Riri's final film project involved a children's theme. Sonata
Kampung Bata (its international title was Merry Go Round) was
named the best short work for children at the 1994 Oberhausen
Short Film Festival in Germany.

Riri's debut work was deeply affecting and showed his
potential as a rapidly emerging filmmaker. He has maintained the
intensity in a creative environment influenced by the happenings
of the film world. Between Sonata Kampung Bata and Petualangan
Sherina, he has produced several documentaries, television
advertisements and video-clips, as well as the feature Kuldesak,
in which Mira was also involved.

Riri and Mira hope Petualangan Sherina will not be a cinematic
flash in the pan.

"We hope that children will be taught to love watching films
in movie theaters, which is why we have not set a date to release
Petualangan Sherina on VCD," Mira said at the film's premier on
June 7.