Indonesian helmer Nia diNata's crowd-pleasing satire "Arisan!" is an amusing blend of camp sophistication with candy-coated pleas for self-fulfillment. The titular get-togethers are theme-oriented hen parties hosted by a different dues-paying member each month, and helmer diNata uses these to gently send up the pretensions of the nouveau riche.
Indonesian helmer Nia diNata’s crowd-pleasing satire “Arisan!” is an amusing blend of camp sophistication with candy-coated pleas for self-fulfillment. The titular get-togethers are theme-oriented hen parties hosted by a different dues-paying member each month, and helmer diNata uses these to gently send up the pretensions of the nouveau riche. Deftly combining playfulness with a strongly affirmative look at gay life, this first Indonesian film to depict a same-sex kiss saw strong home revenue during its Christmas opening. Multi-fest exposure could nudge it into highly specialized circulation in the West.
With a camp sensibility more often associated with Filipino cinema, film focuses on three well-to-do thirtysomething friends in contempo Jakarta. Meimei (Cut Mini) is an attractive interior designer desperate to get pregnant, but hubby Ichal (Nico Siahaan) has a wandering eye and shows little interest.
Meimei’s best friend, Sakti (Tora Sudiro), is an architect in the same firm; his obsessive quest for bodily perfection, combined with genial good looks and a fab wardrobe, are easy clues to his (albeit closeted) homosexuality.
Meimei reluctantly agrees to attend an arisan, hosted by Andien (Aida Nurmala): Gathered together is an assortment of wealthy ladies-who-lunch, the kind of women Claire Booth Luce taught the world to love. Catty remarks and one-upmanship are the name of the game, and Meimei, as the only professional woman in the pack, feels out of place. When Sakti comes to pick her up, he ends up being chosen to host next month’s get-together.
Sakti lives with his busybody mother (Lili Harahap), who brings country cousin Lita (Rachel Maryam) to stay with them in hopes a romance may develop. Sakti’s shrink (Jajang C. Noer) tries to coax him out of the closet, but her therapy isn’t helping to assuage his self-loathing. He does, however, fall for the aggressive wooing of out TV producer Nino (Surya Saputra), although Sakti rigorously maintains his charade of heterosexuality to the rest of the world.
A third plotline revolves around Andien, whose picture-perfect life falls to pieces when her husband admits to an infidelity. Though not without good moments, including a skewering of the pretentious art gallery scene, this feels like a strand come loose from a braid.
Crises temporarily mar everyone’s quest for happiness, but a light touch reigns throughout, and diNata, whose debut meller “A Courtesan” received good fest attention, wisely prevents sentimentality from marring the bouncy tone.
Although not lacking in stock characters and obvious elements, pic manages to stay amusing thanks to a playful script and enough visual humor, beginning with the opening credits, to outweigh the overlong running time. As a mainstream pic coming from a predominantly Muslim country, it stands out for its positive handling of gay themes.
Excellent casting conveys the multi-ethnic makeup of Indonesian society, and diNata has a feel for limning the upper stratas of chic Jakarta life both in her choice of location work and in her ear for dialogue. Andi Rainto’s upbeat music, with its retro ’70s feel, perfectly matches the tone. Shot on Super-16 and blown up to 35mm, pic is the first Indonesian production to use HD color enhancement during the process, and result gives the whole thing a fittingly bright feel.
Arisan!
Indonesia
ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXGAjp%2BgpaVfp7K3tcSwqmiZop7AorqMamlpaGVof3qClmg%3D