Young filmmakers celebrate Women's Day

Young filmmakers celebrate Women's Day

By Gotot Prakosa

JAKARTA (JP): Gender issues play a very significant role in
nurturing democracy in Indonesia. Women have eloquently voiced
their rights for equality in every aspects of the nation's life.

In conjunction with National Women's Day, which falls on Dec.
22, l99, a number of young cinematographers have announced their
own way of celebrating the event.

Organized by the School of Film and Television at the Jakarta
Arts Institute, participants plan to screen their own short films
dealing with women's issues: their rights, their fates and their
fight against inequality.

The short film festival on women's films called Women in Young
Cinematographers' Eyes will show 15 short films at the Lingkar
Mitra Budaya in Menteng, Central Jakarta, from Dec. 20 to Dec.
22, l999.

Among the presented films are Nurani, (Conscience), directed
by Viva Westi Datoek. This is an-all-women's film. It was
produced by female directors and crew, including Regina Indung's
camera work, scriptwriter Lila Nurmalina and sound and light
editors Yane E. Lawalata and Siti Asiva N.

The nine-minute film tells the story of a teenage girl who is
forced by her boyfriend to have an abortion. The boy argues they
are too young to become parents. When the young woman enters the
abortion clinic, she finds many young mothers-to be who lack the
courage and hear to abort the fetuses. The teenager is left in a
very confused state and decides to go to her boyfriend's house
only to find him playing around with another girl.

Shocked and disappointed, the young woman confesses to her
mother that she is pregnant. Her mother, recalling her own
experience, feels guilty and disgraced. The girl decides to keep
the baby and lead a single life.

Anna Siti's Irene also tells the story of an introvert and
timid young girl, who is a victim of a broken home. She
frequently sees her father making love to his lovers; her mother
is also involved in extramarital affairs.

She finds "true love" with a handsome young man, until she
realizes he is a liar and womanizer. In an attempt to escape from
her sad reality, she becomes trapped in a world of lesbians. The
story reaches its climax when finally Irene finds her way to a
heavenly life.

Young director Emilia Tanjung experimented with a short film
titled Halte, (bus shelter), to portray the life of a rural girl
amid the hustle and bustle of Jakarta.

Emilia shoots her film in one place only: the bus shelter. The
story is about 15-year-old Neng, a teenage prostitute. Neng waits
for lonely guys who want to spend the cold nights with her in
return for money. The girl becomes friends with an old newspaper
seller, who feels that they are in the same boat. The old man
acts as her confidant and her protector. Out of concern for the
teenager's safety, he records the police numbers of any car which
take the girl out.

One day, Neng tells him about her plan to marry one of her
clients. The old man tries his best to prevent her from marrying
an unknown man. The teenager is angry and accuses him of
destroying her future. When the man dies in a car accident, Neng
realizes that the old man had saved all of the money she gave him
for her future. After the man dies, a fat old woman replaces him.
But she is unkind and careless. And for Neng, life goes on.

The above stories reveal that these young filmmakers are
attempting to be honest in their vision toward women. The films
reflect their struggles in an unfriendly environment, their
spontaneous efforts. But in many cases, they make compromises
with the current situation. When they make their endings, they
often have to find the best solution for their protagonist by
showing the truth as an aspect of God's ways.

Certainly, it would be interesting if we could discuss the
films from a variety of aspects -- socially and philosophically
-- as well as about the filmmaking techniques.

In addition to these three short films, the festival will also
screen other fine works such as Erevelt by Arie Azis and Sepatu
Merah (the Red Shoes) by Tri Widiastuti. The other 10 films are
directed by young male cinematographers. The films include
Biarkan Kereta Itu Berlalu (Let the Train Pass By) by Epi Zein,
Coda by Arif Pribadi, Balada Kaca (the Glass Ballad) by Johan
Tenggi, Gerbang 1,2,3, (the Gate 1,2,3,), the first Garin Nugroho
short film and Bumerang (Boomerang) by Rafky.

The other films are Seberkas Sinar Kasih (Light of Affection)
by Teguh Prasetyo Harto, Diantara Dua Hati (Between Two Hearts)
by Exel Darmadi, Popon by Edi Santoso, Bitter Chocolate by
Platoon and Pao and Bunga Sandra Kumbang (Sandra Kumbang's
Flower) by Ruli Mana.

Through these films, the young male filmmakers are trying to
portray women as protagonists, as objects, or at least they want
to express their attitudes toward women.

Short films only have a short duration. Yet, with this
brevity, a filmmaker is required to be able to selectively choose
his/her materials. Therefore, every shot he/she takes is
meaningful and easily understood by the viewers.

When the filmmaker only wants to tell a story, he/she is only
shortening a long film story.

In addition to the screening of short films, the festival will
present a discussion with guest speakers including Karlina
Leksono and Tommy F. Awuy.