My research revolves around the themes of diversity in global cinema with a specific focus on Indonesian women’s representation in globalized Indonesian films. I am going through the archives of Indonesian films that have been screened at big international film festivals such as Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Venice International Film Festivals, et cetera. I noticed a pattern of tragic storylines and endings in women’s characters in these movies, and I am determined to find out why, and to also change it! Although I have not finished going through all the movies, some that I have watched with my friends have concluded in the most hopeless way possible, and without any justifiable actions for it to end so sadly. The discussions I have had with some of my Indonesian friends have also concluded that we are tired of seeing women being discriminated against in these films, and if they do have power, it is considered a “curse.” Decades of objectifying women’s characters in films, worldwide, and especially by highly influential Hollywood films, might contribute to this issue. But it is time for a fresh and authentic perspective of telling a woman’s triumph over their obstacles, and not just them breaking down and being the victim, especially without a justifiable string of events that led them to conclude in such a tragic ending. I am in no way against sad or tragic endings, but if it is not delivered through a strings of events that naturally concludes in such a way, it is just another way of painting women characters as victims and powerless.
On the other hand, it is simply time for a different point of view, a story that represents the layers of women in films, especially Indonesian women. We might also only see these types of stories because there are not enough Indonesian women-centered films that are being produced anyway, so in order to contribute to the discussion and disrupt the narrative, I am also writing my own short film screenplay that will disrupt that narrative of unearned and unnecessary tragic themes. The next few months will be filled with finalizing the script, workshopping it and locking collaborators for the project!