Tokyo: Indonesia’s Women Filmmakers Talk Sex, Censorship and Cinema
In a neat piece of scheduling the Tokyo Film Festival’s symposium on women film makers in Indonesian cinema on Wednesday followed directly on from the screening of “Three Sassy Sisters.” Sex, clothing and freedom of expression were on the agenda, and each flowed into the other.
Directed by Nia Dinata, “Sisters” is a bright, sexy celebration of women’s lives when they are not chasing a husband. It is also a modern adaptation of a 1950s Indonesian classic film, harking back to a time when religious conservatism was not the societal norm.
Since that time the country may have become more conservative and conditions for women more strict. “2003 was the golden year for openness and freedom of expression,” said Dinata. Inevitably, the Tokyo discussion turned to changing dress codes. “I’m a Muslim. I don’t cover myself and I’m now in the minority.”
“Women are not taught to be the breadwinners. (As my father has passed away) if I were to get divorced, I’d now become the property of my elder brother,” said Mouly Surya, a musician turned film maker and teacher. But, conversely, Indonesia has long had a tradition of women in film – many producers or cinematographers.
Nevertheless, Kamila Andini (“The Mirror Never Lies”) said she was “privileged” to be able to pursue her chosen career as a director. “All the men in my family are fully supportive – father, father-in-law and husband – of me following my dream. Many others suffer from the patriarchy system.”
Dinata also set about trying to set the record straight on Islamic conservatism and its pushback against supposedly western values.
“People have forgotten the roots of our culture. In our ancient temples women’s breasts were not covered. Sarongs were close fitting. This is not Western culture, this is Indonesian!,” she said.
Like much of Asia, Indonesia suffers from an inability to publicly discuss tricky subject matters, notably sex. “(Sex) must have happened given that we are 250 million people. We just don’t talk about it,” said Surya.
“All of us are sexual beings, c’mon!,” said Dinata. “Cinema is for talking about the the things that are not discussed in real life. It is a force to break hypocrisy.”
“We recognize the force that is trying to make Indonesian women more conservative,” said Dinata, “but film is a power that can make society more diverse and honest.”
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