What's Up with Cinta?

Hello all--for what it's worth, I'm in a doctoral program on Indonesian politics and returned this semester after about a year's fieldwork, most of it in Jakarta.

I'm a big movie fan generally, so I went out as often as I could, and bought tons of local VCDs while I was there. This film was clearly the best of the lot, even though it's a few years old. The story is clear, the acting is excellent, and it stars an incredibly beautiful actress named Dian Sastro. She should be working in western movies, since, unfortunately, virtually every other new film I saw could not measure up to this one, and no actress is as good.

Since this is supposed to be a comment, not a review, I won't bore you with a plot summary. Suffice it to say that if you find this online, buy it. Even though it's a VCD, the transfer quality is good.

It's a local champ, and can be a very entertaining teen flick worldwide. Real characters fill this high-school love movie. The script smoothly runs the story, and strongly constructs the whole first love theme. The love-and-hate chemistry between the main characters works very well too. Actually, the scene where Rangga (the guy, Nicholas Saputra) dropped his precious book in Cinta (the girl, Dian Sastro) is too much of a coincidence... and simply the easiest way to move the story forward. Still acceptable, though. Supporting actress Ladya Cheryll (as Alya, Cinta's friend) delivers a very natural screen-stealing performance. Good music, good faces, good ending too. Overall, this is the kind of movie for a date, for a lazy Sunday afternoon, and for all time.

Rather than use "What's Up with Love?" as the English translation to the title, I would have used "What is it about Love?". Certainly, the plot is basically about two teenagers experiencing those roller-coaster emotions that come with the first yearnings of love/mutual attraction. They find themselves behaving quite unlike their usual selves, and it makes them stop and ask the question "What is it about love?". (Of course, it ties in nicely that the female protagonist's name is Cinta, which is "love" in Indonesian).

The plot is universal enough for anyone to relate to. So the real attraction of this movie lies in the strong script, the good shots used and the ability of the young actors to interact with each other on-screen. They don't seem camera-conscious and they aren't given awful lines or skimpy clothes that seem to be standard stuff in teen movies.

I'm jaded when it comes to watching teen movies (in fact I hardly bother with them now that I'm not a teen) but this one I really liked. Cinta's school friends certainly remind me of the friends I had in school, so it was pretty realistic to me.

What ties it all together is the clever use of an awesome soundtrack with all original songs written by the brilliant Melly Goeslaw. The music itself can tell the story, and that says a lot for it.

There are weak moments, as there are in most movies. But nothing I've cringed at, or anything I care to remember. I cannot understand much of the Indonesian language and yet the movie spoke to me, so I give it my thumbs up.

Watching this movie makes you want to go back to the time where you were a high school. A movie that reflects our lives as a teenager with all the problems and excitement within. High school memories never be the unforgettable ones.

Taking from Cinta's point of view, friendship and love can't mixed very well together. She sees that she must choose one of them. To get both of them means that she has to lie about it. But after all, it's no friendship at all if friends can't understand the problem faced by the others. That's a friend for, to share and to cheer up each other. Love is another thing, in a different side of one's life, but love is understandable.

Generally, this movie is enjoyable to watch. Not too dramatic, picturing in a very ordinary way, but yet, it touches the soul of the story. And the most endearing of this movie is the ending. An ending that makes people want to see it again and again.

After seeing this movie for the second time, I must admit: My oppinion about this movie changed completely. This movie tells the story about 5 girls, heart to heart friends, who share their most inner secrets. This friendship gets damaged when one of the girls (Cinta) falls in love with a handsome, sometimes cool, classmate (Rangga) and she keeps this secret for herself. Their love gets tested when one of the girls ends up in the hospital after Cinta ignores her phonecall due to her date with Rangga. The girls get back together and Cinta and Rangga? To know the answer you HAVE to wathc this movie.

This movie is unlike other Indonesian movies, a film from this millenium. The world of (upperclass) Indonesian teenagers (expensive houses, their own rooms with stereo, driving cars), but the average teenager from Indonesia recognizes him/herself in this drama. Comments and sighs are heard throughout the whole movie, and when the times seem to come that the two young lovers are going to kiss, the whole audience participates and encourages them. Before the kiss comes though, they have to wait a long time...

Picture, sound, music, acting, it all shows that Indonesian filmmakers are on the move, and that somehow the time for Hollywood is over. Films from Indonesia, Asia, new Zealand and Uk are doing better than movies from the USA, and the Asian audience as well as many westerners discover that there is more than Hollywood. hopefully the time comes that Indonesian movies get recognition by the international audience and that the films made in Bollywood get the same quality as this little jewel from Indonesia. Thumbs up for this teenage drama!!!