OPERA JAWA
(Garin Nugroho / Indonesia, Austria / 2006 / Fiction, Musical / 120 min)
With English Subtitles
Inspired by the famous story “The Abduction of Sita” from the great classic of ancient Indian and South East-Asian literature the Ramayana, OPERA JAWA is a musical like no other in cinema. It tells of a passionate love triangle that leads inexorably to conflict, violence and death. Setio and his wife Siti, run a pottery business in a small village where Ludiro, a powerful and ruthless butcher, controls all the trading activities. When the couple’s business collapses, Ludiro, who has always been in love with Siti, seizes his chance, abducts and tries to seduce her. Inevitably the two men begin to fight over Siti.
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Sebuah film opera dimana seluruh adegan dilakukan dalam lagu dan tarian, tanpa dialog. Seluruh musik dan lirik diciptakan khusus untuk film ini berdasar gamelan dan tembang Jawa, dan tetap menggunakan bahasa Jawa. Di samping musiknya, film ini juga merupakan kerjasama sutradara dengan pelukis yang membuat seni instalasi untuk latar adegan (Sunaryo, Nindityo, Hendro, Agus Suwage, Titaruby, S Teddy, dll), dan dengan penari yang merupakan pelakon-pelakon utama film ini.
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