cin(T)a; a love triangle between a boy, a girl, and God..

I was doing some of my emails and reviewing some of the assignments the debating team has sent me, which is quite hard work even when it's done in front of the TV while watching Asian Food Channel in a cooled room ^^; when Joan, a very dear friend of mine buzzed me to remind me about the registration for the World Debating tournament that'll be opened this noon..

After that she gave me a link which i will give to you too at the end of this article (i will also accesorize this article with quotes from the trailer). She said to me to have a look at this Indie feature. For those of you who dont know, "Indie" is not a movie made in India, nor is it about Indians and their dancing and it is definitely not about red Indians of north America (^^;) but it is a film made by a relatively "non professional" crew, but this does not mean its ameteurish, it just means their method of production does not go thru the usual corporate production house system, meaning is usually have minimum funding compared to the commercial movies. But often because it has less contraints (commercially, politically, and stuff) it can be more "honest" to viewers, which is why i like indies when i look for movies or features with content. Commercial films sometimes can be way way too diplomatic.

"it's like Newton's first principle; beauty is inversely proportional to brain"

Anyway, I was excited to see this flick. You know why? Because its Indonesian! I've always been a movie aficionado and i am not ashamed to say that more of my favorite movies are productions made not by my own countrymen. This is not because I'm "bling" or "globalised" or "pompous" but because what i seek in entertainment are rarely filled by domestic movies. Don't get me wrong, when Indonesians make good movies, they turn out SO much better I think than ANY Hollywood (or Bollywood) movie ANY kind of day, we do have cinematography senses! But again, i have no idea why production houses choose to ignore masterpieces like Laskar Pelangi, Denias, Daun di Atas Bantal, etc and instead decide to capitalize on stupid horror features like Sumpah Pocong, Pocong VS Kuntilanak, etc..

"That's why God created Love, so that those who are different can unite!"

So this story is a flick madeby a group of very very talented cinemaphiles. It highlights the cultural normatives in Indonesia. It questions the very core of sensitivity in Indonesia; religion. And it highlight something never before emphasized in a movie; inter-faith relationships. The existence of such relationship is a major debate not only in Indonesia, but as the film emphasizes; its chance of survival in Indonesia is very low, because of the normative value-based society that exists in Indonesia.

"Religion is the cheapest propaganda that has caused countless historical human slaughters!"

What do you think? Is love something you can separate from your faith? Are they equal, or hiearchal? And if so, which goes first? Love, or religion?

"Why did God create us differently if God only wants to be worshipped one way?"

I'm a pretty open person, i think people can decide on any and I'd still respect that. I would be one of those who ultimately defend the existence of inter-faith relationships, meaning that I dont necessarily see that religious difference should kill the possibility of the unity of love. I know this is against some teachings in some religion (I'm pretty sure in Islam it is so) but that's just how i view it. Personally i would try to seek a partner of the same religion, but sometimes we cant choose can we? The heart sometimes makes our choices for us, and if indeed every man was created on earth for a woman, then what makes the possibility of that destiny closed to only women of the same religion? If you relationship does not decrease your obedience in personal faith to your God, i see no problem.

"God loves Cina and Annisa, but they cannot love each other because they call God using different names"

But let's not go too deep into that. Let's go back to that flick. Now as interesting as it may be, I have my doubts that it can ever go up for a screening publicly in Indonesia's cinemas. Why? You see, as free as Indonesia's media is, we're still evolving in the sense that heavy sensors do happen. It is not often that the government completely bans the distribution of a movie but it does happen once in a while. Now this movie is provocative (this is not how i would word it, i would use "enlightening"), because it dares to expose a condition in Indonesia's society, however i would imagine not many elements of our society has an open mind to accept the facts stated in this movie. I dont think our society is as prepared as other societies are to put thei own standards under the microscope. Read my article on Aceh and you can see how this tendency even is omitted to treatments upon human rights violation In Indonesia.. This is what concerns me..

"We have been given the privilege to learn more. Those who know nothing is easier provoked"

So, go see the trailer, read the blogs, and help spread out this Indie, because it does have prudence! We live to love, but sometimes we love to stay alive :)

- trailer here (indonesian with some english subtitles)
- blog here (indonesian)