TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian film Marlina Si Pembunuh dalam Empat Babak (Marlina the Killer in Four Chapters) received a warm welcome in its premiere on Wednesday at Teater Quanzaine, Cannes, France. The audience at the theater gave a standing ovation after the movie ended.
The film director Mouly Surya and casts Marsha Timothy, Dea Panendra, Egy Fedly, Yoga Pratama took the stage following the screening. French reporters gave spoke highly about the film before the interview session.
A reporter asked why a character in the film makes the sign of the cross considering Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country. Mouly replied that around 20 percent of Indonesian people are non-Muslims. “It’s [part of] Indonesia’s diversity,” he said.
The audience, most of whom were French journalists, film practitioners and critics, laughed at several scenes of the film. They even applauded when a scene shows Novi decapitates an offender who tried to rape Marlina. Marlina and Novi are best friends.
The film is divided into four chapters: the robbery, the journey, the confession and the birth. Using East Sumba landscapes as its background, the film is about a local woman who has just suffered the loss of her husband. She lives alone in a remote house along with her mummified husband that is not yet buried as she breeds cattle to fund his funeral.
One day, seven robbers come by. They not only took her cattle but also try to rape Marlina. With brain and brawn, Marlina subdues five robbers, decapitating one of them in the process. She later takes the decapitated head to a police station.
Marlina is the fourth Indonesian film to screen at the Cannes in the past 29 years. The first film was Tjoet Nja’ Dhien (1988) directed by Eros Djarot, that won Best Foreign Film award. Garin Nugroho’s Daun di Atas Bantal was screened in Un Certain Regard program at the Cannes in 1998.
The third film was Serambi (2006), which was also screened at Un Certain Regard at the Cannes. The documentary was directed by Garin Nugroho together with Tonny Trimarsanto, Lianto Suseno and Viva Westi.
YUDONO (CANNES)