DAY 5: MONDAY APRIL 3 2006

At the Filmmuseum Vondelpark last night, CinemAsia hosted the try-out screening of an Indonesian Surprise Film. CinemAsia were privileged to present this work in progress as an exceptional favor from the filmmaker.

The film turned out to be a triptych of individual films connected by fleeting glimpses of major characters in the succeeding stories. All three sections are set in Jakarta, and all three register the impact of the tsunami that destroyed Aceh in December 2005. The first is the story of Salma, a doctor who runs a birth-control clinic, married to a local businessman with political ambition. They are a Muslim family, and over the years Salma and her son Nadim must deal with the increasing number of other wives and children that appear as a result of her husband Pak Haji's polygamy. The tsunami dwarfs individual concerns and takes Nadim's attention away from his bitterness at his father's behavior. This tale of acceptance, forgiveness and compassion - albeit with a comical twist - leads into the story of another polygamous household, only this time in the slums of Jakarta, not the wealthy home of a doctor and a businessman.

“Sisters” Dwi, Sri and Ti, live under the same roof with numerous children, taking turns to “serve” their husband. Ti and Dwi slowly realize their love for each other, and plan to leave. Determined to prevent the pregnancies that compel them to stay, they visit Dr. Salma's birth control clinic. When their husband brings home yet another wife they make their bid for freedom, escaping in a taxi from which a beautiful, well-dressed young woman has just emerged ...

Ming is the young waitress at a restaurant where the chef makes Dr. Salma and Pak Haji's favorite roast duck. While she yearns to become an actress, the chef yearns for her. He secretly marries her and sets her up in an apartment of her own while his wife is away in the US. Eventually, Ming chooses independence, but must exchange her apartment for a room in the slums as the price. Although through with marriage, she can always take lovers - we suspect it won't be long before she finds her way to Dr. Salma's clinic.
All roads in this film seem to lead to a birth control clinic, frankly indicating that only when the women of Jakarta have control over their own reproductivity can they achieve economic and social autonomy.

We confidently predict that this work-in-progress will become a commercial and critical success in Indonesia!

Tuesday night at the Filmmuseum Vondelpark - from the Hong Kong Film Archive CinemAsia presents Ann Hui's multiple award-winning Boat People. This critically acclaimed melodrama focuses on post-war reconstruction in the villages of Vietnam - all stories told are from shocking real-life experience.