Under the Tree (film)

Di Bawah Pohon
Directed by	Garin Nugroho
Written by	Eros Djarot
Starring	Marcella Zalianty Ayu Laksmi Nadia Saphira
Cinematography	Yadi Sugandi
Editing by	Andi Pulung Waluyo
Release date(s)	2008
Running time	104 minutes
Country	Indonesia
Language	Indonesian

Under the Tree (Indonesian: Di Bawah Pohon) is a 2008 Indonesian movie directed by Garin Nugroho.

Plot

The film follows three women on their individual journeys in Bali. The first, Maharani (Marcella Zalianty), is an adoptee from Jakarta who has come to Bali to look for her birth mother. The second, Nian (Nadia Saphira), is a celebrity who goes to Bali to escape her family life back in Jakarta. The last, Dewi (Ayu Laksmi), is a radio personality whose husband is never home and who is carrying a dead child in her womb; Dewi must eventually choose whether to live or to commit suicide.

Production

Nugroho and his production team spent 20 days filming on Bali, including in Ubud, Sanur, and Karangasem.^[1] The film was produced without a screenplay. Instead, the actors were asked to discuss their ideas for their characters with Nugroho, to ensure that they understood their own character.^[2]

Themes

Nugroho notes that Under the Tree is a critique of suicide in Indonesia, and how very few people pay attention to it, including the government. He notes that "trees are attached to human lives".^[3] Nugroho has also stated that the movie has an environmental message.^[1]

Release and reception

Under the Tree had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.^[4] It later competed in the Tokyo Film Festival.^[3]

Nauval Yazid of The Jakarta Post notes that Under the Tree is somewhat mainstream for Nugroho, who generally makes art films. The film's choreography during the Balinese dancing is praised, as is storyline and Laksmi's performance. However, the other two main characters are described as not resonating as much as Laskmi, and the use of the shaky camera technique is criticized.^[5]

In its review of the film for the Toronto Film Festival, Variety notes that Under the Tree mixes traditional Balinese music with modern issues, similar to the Javanese music used in Nugroho's previous film Opera Jawa; the execution is noted to be not "as well integrated" as in the older film. The brown-tinted and shaky camerawork was considered "sometimes near-nauseating."^[6]

References

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b} KapanLagi.com, Garin Soroti Krisis.
2. ^ 21 Cineplex, Wajah Beda Indonesia.
3. ^ ^{a b} Jakarta Post 2008, Suicide cases inspire.
4. ^ Jakarta Post 2008, Garin's film to premier.
5. ^ Yazid 2009, Some magic remains.
6. ^ Variety 2008, Under the Tree.

Bibliography

• "Garin Soroti Krisis Lingkungan di 'UNDER THE TREE'" (in Indonesian). KapanLagi.com. http://www.kapanlagi.com/showbiz/film/garin-soroti-krisis-lingkungan-di-under-the-tree-8hop071_print.html. Retrieved 30 September 2011. 
• "Garin's film to premier at London Film Festival". Jakarta Post. 11 September 2008. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/09/11/garin039s-film-premier-london-film-festival.html. Retrieved 30 September 2011. 
• "Suicide cases inspire Garin". Jakarta Post. 23 October 2008. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/10/23/suicide-cases-inspire-garin.html. Retrieved 30 September 2011. 
• "Under the Tree". Variety. 11 September 2008. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117938314/. Retrieved 30 September 2011. 
• "Wajah Beda Indonesia dalam Under The Tree" (in Indonesian). 21 Cineplex. http://www.21cineplex.com/slowmotion/wajah-beda-indonesia-dalam-under-the-tree,611.htm. Retrieved 30 September 2011. 
• Yazid, Nauval (11 January 2009). "Some magic remains buried 'Under the Tree'". Jakarta Post. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/11/some-magic-remains-buried-039under-tree039.html. Retrieved 30 September 2011.