Opera Jawa

Garin Nugroho

IndieLisboa 2007 •

Indonesia, Austria, Fiction, 2006, 120′

Inspired by The Abduction of Sita from the great classic of ancient Indian and South East-Asian literature the Ramayana, Opera Jawa is a musical like no other in cinema. It tells of a passionate love triangle that leads inexorably to conflict, violence and death. Setio and his wife Siti, run a pottery business in a small village where Ludiro, a powerful and ruthless butcher, controls all the trading activities. When the couple’s business collapses, Ludiro, who has always been in love with Siti, seizes his chance, abducts and tries to seduce her. Inevitably the two men begin to fight over Siti…