Opera Jawa

Dance opera

• Written by Aramantono and Garin Nugroho
• Directed by Garin Nugroho

Astonishing sensual, works like a dream. Things don’t connect the way they do in the real world (or in a conventional film), but that doesn’t bother you in the slightest. You’re in its world, and you see no reason to want out. In the end, you can hardly remember the story, but the images will last for the rest of your life.

As the title implies, Opera Jawa is a tale told in music, not dialog. Characters sing of their hopes and thravails, and dance their emotions. Especially dance. They dance in bed, on tabletops, and in violent revolution. They dance with abandon and hypnotic power. The film overflows with great dancers, but Eko Supriyanto stands out as a seducer intent on taking another man’s wife. Artika Sari Devi, as the object of his affection, dances almost as well and with more emotion.

There’s a story in here somewhere, about adultery in a time of economic trouble and class warfare. A story, I’m told, based on part of an ancient Sanskrit epic, although this version of the story is set in the present. I can’t say that I followed the story all that well. Nor can I say that I was bothered by the lack of coherence.

For that matter, I can’t really say I understood all of the imagery. What were the giant straw hats about? Or the candles? Or the televisions carved out of solid rock? Does it matter? The images dazzled with beauty and demanded, if not answers, at least questions.

Opera Jawa, which played at the 2007 San Francisco International Film Festival, is unlike anything else you’ve ever seen. Don’t miss it.

Opera Jawa opens Friday at the Kabuki‘s SFFS screen.