Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts

A indonesian rape/revenge movie in four parts. The males are mindless thugs, and early on you realize marlina is not a push over. The movie is pretty slow moving but as its set in rural indonesia, it reflects the isolation of how it is in those island areas. The policemen scene, pretty much sums up how you deal with indonesian bureauracy in real life. The cinematography is majestic and with accompanying music remind me of 70s spaghetti westerns, in some scenes even felt there were hints of tarantino. Overall, slow paced watchable movie.

Marlina (Marsha Timothy) is a young woman living on a farm in rural Indonesia. As news spreads that she is recently widowed, a gang of seven bandits arrive at her home with the intention of robbing and raping her. Her predicament and its aftermath lead her to meet other interesting characters including Novi (Dea Penendra) who is in a late stage of pregnancy and experiencing marital problems.

Director Mouly Surya (who wrote the film with Rama Adi) seems to be influenced by Quentin Tarantino though, thankfully, with much less violence and darkness. This film has a bizarre mix of humour with conflict and tragedy. Like Tarantino, Surya succeeds in creating a film that is unique, thrilling, and eccentric. Timothy is good as unlikely hero; her sarcastic glances are hilarious. And the stunning photography of beautiful landscapes was truly a treat. - dbamateurcritic.

Four acts may sound like a lot and for some people the movie may feel very slow. It is indeed slow, so just don't expect any big bangs or a story that will have a Hollywood flair to it. Having said that and mixing into it that there is a certain degree of predictability. Still there is shocking moments and this may not be for the faint of hearted.

It's not like it is very explicit in its violence depiction, but you'll get the idea (no pun intended). Some may have issues with the movie being "feminist". I do not feel there being a negative energy with a strong female lead. Also there is still a lot of bad male characters. Which generally is something I don't like - one sided portrayl, but it does work for this movie. I don't agree with everything in here, but this is more than decent

The four acts go by pretty fast, which is good. It's like an uncooked Kill Bill as Marlina kills her rapist and the men who he was traveling with who wanted a chance to assault her as well. Then it's a strange slow burn as Marlina attempts a journey to inform the police of what happen, while avoiding another set of men looking for her attackers.

It's one of those flicks that has an interesting story line, that your expecting far more action and drama from, but the filmmakers chose to keep a quiet approach possibly to respect the real situation of sexual assault.

Plus it's done in a different culture other than my own. A contemporary place that co-exist with my place but in so many ways very different than what I know. That really does add to the interesting element of the film.

And I love the pacing of the film. It seems to go slowly but it does not feel like it at all. Perfect!

Absolute great watch!

When the Western genre comes out of Indonesia, attention to its similarities becomes a critic's part-time job. Critic Maggie Lee calls Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts a "Satay Western" the way other critics would call a Clint Eastwood western an "oater."

But Leone and Morricone are there with lens and music, landscapes hot and desolate and music just as forlorn. Marlina (Marsha Timothy) alone out there, widowed, and visited by bad guys who want not her money and livestock but also her body.

From that harrowing episode comes a vengeance story different from the usual Western tropes in so many ways. Mostly it is a Western with a female as lead and as tough with a machete as Eastwood with a gun, and just as vengeful.

Marlina together with another feisty female, Novi (Dea Panendra), who is pregnant, places the patriarchal men in vulnerable territory. In fact the customs of Indonesia, Malaysia, and elsewhere are so vigorously male-centered as to make any cultural Westerner cringe. However, that seems to be director Mouly Surya's goal.

Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts will remind you of Tarantino's Kill Bill but without some of his patented irony. In both cases, a violent feminism seems just right given the offenses women have suffered over the centuries.

As in the great spaghetti Westerns, the theme music is haunting and the landscape forbidding. But most of all, the characters are strong and righteous, just the way #MeToo should like it.