Synopsis |
Chants of Lotus
an anthology film
The film is an omnibus of four stories bearing different issues about women in Indonesia. Four women
directors and two women writers and producers are appointed to carry on the task; the choice was
made to create a bigger chance for women in filmmaking and to achieve a realistic and personal touch
to the issue. |
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Chant From An Island
Directed by Fatimah Tobing Rony,
Story by Vivian Idris
Main Cast: Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, Rachel
Maryam, Arswendi Nasution
Sumantri dedicates her life for the well
being of mothers and newborns in one of
the densely populated island within the
Thousand Islands area, north of Jakarta.
With a limited access to the outside world,
her position is indispensable. She always
puts her own needs aside, including her
health. She is in denial facing the fact
that she is suffering from a breast cancer.
Sumantri has a special connection with Wulan,
the island autistic girl, who is frequently
mocked and harassed by the locals. Wulan
cures Sumantri's longing for the child she
can never have.
When Sumantri and her husband are getting ready to leave the island in
pursue of her cancer treatment, a shameful tragedy befall Wulan. The girl is
raped and fell pregnant. Due to Wulan's unfit condition, Sumantri is thinking
of performing an abortion, the forbidden act and considered as a big sin by
the local believe. On the other hand, she has to face her husband's plea to
leave the island with a good reputation.
Chant From A Village
Directed by Nia Dinata,
Story by Melissa Karim
Main Cast: Shanty, Sarah Sechan, Ken Nala
Amrita
Esi is a single mother who works as a janitor
in a dangdut (Indonesian dance music that
derives from Malay, Arabic and Indian folk
music) club in Cibinong, a rural city just
outside Jakarta. She is determined to provide
her only daughter with education albeit
her struggle to make ends meet. One fateful
night she comes home to find her barely
teenage girl, Maesaroh, is sexually harassed
by Narto, Esi's living in boyfriend. A nasty
fight erupted, shattered, scared, and bruised
both mother and daughter make their escape.
Esi finds a shelter and protector in Cicih, the club's icon that is gutsy and witty
at the same time. With Cicih's support, Esi is able to ignore Narto's threats and
continue with her work and life. But one night Esi arrives from work only to find
the unfortunate event repeats itself. She loses her daughter and also her best
friend and mentor, Cicih to a local women trafficking syndicate.
Chant From A Tourist Town
Directed by Upi,
Story by Vivian Idris
Main Cast: Kirana Larasati, Fauzi Baadilla
Safina and her gang are high school students
in Yogyakarta, the capital city of Central
Java, also famous as a destination for tourists
and higher learning in the country. Mushrooming
Internet rentals all over the city to cater
the students' need, creates a derivative
market for teenagers with their raging hormone.
The technology provides easy access to internet,
to satisfy their curiosity about one issue
that captivates them the most: SEX, a subject
that up to this day is believed as taboo.
Unlike the other gang members who have been experimenting sex with their
peers, Safina falls in love with a Jakarta based journalist who visits the city to
do a research on his article about sex life of high school students. Jay Anwar
the young journalist recognizes the values of this young girl for his project and
personal interest. The feeling is mutual and reciprocal, sparks fly between them.
Little that she knows, what the young journalist has in mind may not be close to
the price she has sacrificed.
Chant From The Capital City
Directed by Lasja Fauzia,
Story by Melissa Karim
Main Cast: Susan Bachtiar, Winky Wiryawan,
Ratna Riantiarno, Tarzan
Laksmi, a middle class woman of Chinese
descent is shocked to found out that her
husband has died of AIDS. Barely recovered
from the grieve, she has to deal with the
fact that she is infected by the same virus.
She is devastated; her ever disapproving
in-laws put the blame on her and demand
the custody of their grandchild, the couple's
only child Belinda. Laksmi struggles to
keep Belinda even when all her possessions,
including the house she lives in, are taken
away from her. Suddenly they are fugitive
of their own family. Together the mother
and daughter move from one place to another
in search for a shelter. Trying to survive
without a job, Laksmi begins to see the
reality that for the sake of her daughter
and herself, she has to choose between her
daughter and her own fight with HIV. |
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