Whether you want to be thrown in the middle of a high-speed car chase, get the popular girl, meet the perfect man, or sail the seas with pirates, people go to the movies to escape. Movies help us gain an understanding for situations outside our own, whether it be comedy or severe tragedy. Sometimes movies can help us experience other cultures, transplanting us into parts of the world unknown to us. Such is the case with the Indonesian-American masterpiece Opera Jawa.
The film is a re-telling of a fundamental Indian tale Ramayana, specifically the chapter of the story dealing with an evil man, Ravana, seducing the wife, Sita, of a beloved prince, Rama. In Opera Jawa, the beloved prince is a local pottery maker and salesman named Setyo, who travels frequently to sell his wares leaving behind is beautiful wife Siti. While he is away, a powerful man in the village, the local butcher Ludiro, actively and relentlessly tries to seduce her. Even though he goes to great lengths to woo her, she resists.
Finally, in a beautifully filmed scene, with the help of his mother, Ludiro rolls our enough flowy bright red fabric to extend from his house to Sitis, enticing her to come to him. It is now that Siti succumbs to Ludiro. Setyo learns of her infidelity and he and Ludiro go to battle against one another. Setyo recruits the commoners in the village, and they march to battle to protest disgraces against their people. Ludiro goes to battle with a band of skillful soldiers. Setyo wins the battle, killing Ludiro, just like in the Ramayana.
If you are unfamiliar with the Ramayana and the Javanese culture, as I was (I did all my research on the story after I watched the movie), you might be a little lost. I was able to grasp the basic concepts of the story, but I always had the feeling like I was missing something. This didnt take away from being able to appreciate the rich drama of the story though, as most of it is visual. The struggle that Siti feels is portrayed in a scene where she is trapped in a maze made of coconut shells, as men wearing giant baskets on their heads dance menacingly around her, trapping her. The unfaltering pursuit of Siti by Ludiro is shown many ways, through his slow, seductive dancing, and the way the environment is set up. In one scene, he lures her with candles spread over a pathway leading to a room with a giant bed near an indoor pool.
The title is not a metaphor, this film is an opera in every sense of the word. The entire film is sung in traditional Javanese verse, using traditional Javanese music. It might be off-putting to our Western ears at first, but it fits perfectly with the tone of the film.
Following the film is a dedication to the victims of natural disaster and domestic violence, echoing the plight of the villagers in the film.
Even though most of the symbolism is lost in translation, enough is present to still make an impact. There are no car chases, no pirates, and no superheros, but there is still much to be appreciated while watching Opera Jawa, thanks to the great care taken by director Garin Nugroho to allow the story to transcend language and culture.
Presented in gorgeous 2.35:1 widescreen to enhance the breathtaking colors and visuals of the film.
The sound is perfection.
Discussion Guide/Fact Sheet DVD ROM features. As with all Global Lens features, a discussion guide is available for educators to use while showing the films in their classrooms.
Global Lens Showcase – This is a clickable text summary of the other available films from Global Lens. Those films are: Of Love And Eggs (Indonesia), Buffalo Boy (Vietnam), Whisky (Uruguay), Fuse (Bosnia Herzegovina), Daughter of Keltoum (Algeria), Mango Yellow (Brazil), Women’s Prison (Iran)
Global Lens 2008 Series Trailer
The Global Film Initiative – Text info about the program.
First Run Features – Text info about the distributor.
While watching the film, it took me a while to get into it. The music is different, their singing style is different, and I really wondered if I could listen to it for two full hours. But then I got into the story and was able to follow the visuals, and the music became the perfect accompaniment. This is not a film for everyone, but if you’re interested, I would recommend reading up on the Ramayana and learning as much as possible about the film beforehand. It will only enhance your experience.
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Global Lens presents Opera Jawa. Directed by: Garin Nugroho. Starring: Artika Sari Devi, Martinus Miroto, Eko Supriyanto. Written by: Garin Nugroho. Running time: 120 minutes. Rating: NR. Released on DVD: March 24, 2009. Available at Amazon.com
