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Islamic Films in Indonesia:

A Highlight

Eric Sasono

January 2012Hua Hin International Film Festival

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Islamic Films?

Islamic films in Indonesia compared to other

religious films

Different than hagiography (chronicles of

apostles and saints), because Islam does not

acknowledge any apostles and saints;

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Islamic Films?

Different than iconography (depiction of

religious symbols) because Islam knows no

religious relics;

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Islamic Films?

Muslim Social

Depiction of Muslim in his / her everyday life;

Highly-related to performativity, or how onebehaves in front of others;

Islamic characteristic as a social borderline

to define ones existence;

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Islamic Films?

Portrayal of piousMuslims

Islamic attire /jilbab

as part of statement

as oppose to secular /

westernized clothing;

Islamic lifestyle:

taaruf rather than

making out;

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Islamic Films?

Portrayal of piousMuslims

Islam-based attitude

towards wealth: ikhtiar

(efforts) and tawakal

(religious persistency)

in pursuing wealth;

Islamic reform: Islam

as a solution for socio-

political problems;

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Why Islamic Films?

Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim country,

240 million population with over 80% Muslim;

Bigger context: the raising awareness of religious

standardization of consumption (halalindustry);

Middle-class Muslim in Indonesia, whose growth

is supported by consumer-based economy;

Precursors: nasyid Islami (Islamic acapela), IslamicTV soap opera, Islamic chick-lit., etc.

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General characteristics

Lifestyle, rather than social criticism or socially-relevant films;

Middle-class issues;

Non-political standpoints; High concern over personal welfare and social

status;

Adherence to Islam as additional tool for social

climbingbeing a pious Muslim is cool; A shift on abroad experience as social status

symbol: from America to Egypt.

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Exceptions

Social criticism:

Perempuan Berkalung

Surban (A Veiled

Woman), Doa YangMengancam (A

Threatening Prayer)

Hanung Bramantyo;

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Exceptions

Political stance: Sang

Pencerah (The

Enlightened One), ?

(Question Mark)Hanung Bramantyo.

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Exceptions

Laskar Pelangi

(Rainbow Troops),

Rindu Purnama, nave

portrayal of povertyand social problems

Mizan Production

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Why Islamic Films?

The most-watched films each year 2008-2011

are Islamic films;

2008: Laskar Pelangi(Rainbow Troops) and

Ayat-ayat Cinta(Verses of Love);

2009: Ketika Cinta Bertasbih 1 & 2(When Love

Glorifies God 1 and 2);

2010: Sang Pencerah(The Enlightened One)

and Dalam Mihrab Cinta(In the Niche of Love)

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Why Islamic Films?

Audience of Ketika Cinta Bertasbih

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Why Islamic Films?

Political significance

Endorsement from Islamic political leaders

cultural strategy;

Mainstreaming of scriptural Islamic lifestyles:

More formalistic and less substantive

representation of Islam;

Less tolerant to multiculturalism and diversity;

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Endorsement from Islamic Political Leader

Ketika Cinta Bertasbih as

high-quality and

dignified film;

The audience that flocked

the cinema as am evidence

of public inclination towards

high-quality and

dignified film;

Let just see the high-quality and dignified

films