One of the highly anticipated films of the 11th Okinawa International Movie Festival is the crowd-pleasing Indonesian drama “Keluarga Cemara.” It is a smash hit in its native country, drawing 1 million viewers in its first 10 days of release.


The touching, work is based on the short stories of writer Arswendo Atmowiloto, which were previously turned into a television series in the 1990s. It follows a well-off family from Jakarta that loses its comfortable house and money due to a dishonest business partner. They have no choice but to move into an old house in a remote area, which the two daughters initially hate. Their experiences test the relationships between each of the members of the family before finally bringing them closer together.


The team behind the film turned up to introduce it for the audience at the Sakurazaka Theatre on the first day of the festival, April 18th. Asked why he wanted to remake the television series, up-and-coming director Yandy Laurens explained that a producer came to him and said, “Now what Indonesia needs is a film about a family.” He remembered the original television series, which was very popular when he was a child. “I also think the story has a lot to do with what is happening in Indonesia now,” the Laurens said.


8-year-old Widuri Sasono, who plays the younger of the two daughters, pulled of a fantastic and emotional performance. The young actor was so poised and confident on stage after the screening the audience was enthralled. She said that filming on location exposed her to new things, just like the character she plays. “I grew up in Jakarta, which is very hot, so everyone uses air conditioners,” she explained. “When we went to the countryside, it was the first time for me to be inside without an air conditioner or to sleep with blankets.”


The Yoshimoto female comedy duo Ganbareruya also made an appearance. The members Yoshiko and Mahiru both come from large families and said watching the film made memories of fighting and making up with their siblings come flooding back to them.


The fantastic success of the film in its native Indonesia, as well as at the 11th Okinawa International Movie Festival, shows that the power of films focusing on families can cross borders.

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