Nawi’s Comedy: Revealing Social Criticism (1)

Writing this curatorial—without trying not to fall into redefining national film or drawing aside from “1st world cinema” definition in the post-colonial spirit, as if trying to imagine that the films I chose are independent, but in fact the medium and the language are universal—and presenting Nawi Ismail, a comedy filmmaker in Indonesian cinema, are not my intention to make fixed definition. It is not merely trying to match the theme of this festival, but in fact, point of view of Indonesian cinema needs to be intruded. If ‘deconstruction’ does not sound very trite, let’s use it in this curatorial.

Most of us who were born during 60’s to 90’s certainly had memories on Benyamin and on Benyamin’s boots in the film Benyamin Tukang Ngibul (1975). Four generations are having these memories. They remember the opening scene when a man in the quiet village near Jakarta (played by Benyamin Sueb) is plowing up the rice field while cursing. We remember when the man is looking up to the sun, he said, “My God! Our  civilization is going backward! Why we should take a look to the sun to know what hour it is?”. The next one is when Benyamin is going to Jakarta. For millions of people, since 50’s Jakarta became a city of dream –including  for Benyamin.

The premise is simple: Benyamin comes to Jakarta with his friend, Eddie Gombloh; they live in their friend’s house. As if being lied by their own dream, in the first day someone was lying to them. They decided to be a windbag, a promising profession that make a lot of money and they just provide lick and promise.  Their false-drug business ruined; they separated. Finally, Benyamin found military boots while fishing, and the story goes to Benyamin and his boots. Having these boots, Benyamin having many of unfortunate events. Tired of this condition, Benyamin decided to go back to his village.