Arisan! (2003)

Director:

Nia Di Nata

Writers:

Joko Anwar (writer)
Nia Di Nata (writer)

Release Date:

10 December 2003 (Indonesia)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Unhappy people can make a happy picture

Plot:

Friendship and principles are put to a test in the circle of Jakarta's social elite which can be as turbulent as the city's slums.

Plot Keywords:

Gay Interest | Piano | Drag Queen | Infidelity | One Word Title

Cast

Cut Mini Theo	...	Meimei
Tora Sudiro	...	Sakti
Aida Nurmala	...	Andien
Surya Saputra	...	Nino
Rachel Maryam Sayidina	...	Lita (as Rachel Maryam)
Trey Gondokusumo
Lili Harahap	...	Grace
Aurora Yahya	...	Fanny
Wilza Lubis	...	Nuri
Nico Siahaan	...	Ical
Tika Panggabean	...	Masseur
Jajang C. Noer	...	Psychiatrist
Ria Irawan	...	Yayuk Asmara
Indra Birowo	...	Rama
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Abraham	...	Gyneocologist
Joko Anwar	...	Restaurant Manager
Marchia Caroline	...	Wulan
Reuben Elishama	...	Reuben
Henny	...	Lusi
Debie Katharina	...	Merry
Ricardo Marpaung	...	Police Officer #1
Joshua Pandelaki	...	Bob
Rako Prijanto	...	Police Officer #2
Danny Saputra	...	Theatre Manager
Tino Saroenggallo	...	Gallery Owner
Erly N. Senjaya	...	Pregnant Drug Dealer
Titti Soewarno	...	Maid
Sapto S.	...	Yung Yung

Also Known As:

The Gathering (International: English title)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

Indonesia

Language:

Indonesian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Bandung, Bali, Indonesia

Company:

Kalyana Shira Film

Trivia:

This is the first Indonesian film to use high-definition color enhancement.

Indonesia coming out!

Exiting times in Indonesia! two Indonesian films defeate the 3rd movie in 'The Matrix' Trilogy. But the one that everyone's eyes are at is 'Arisan!'. 3 Close friends live a normal life, that is, at first look. After a while we see them strugle with unhappiness in different forms. Meimei hears from her Doctor that she won't be able to become pregnant and sees her husband run away. Andien's husband slept with someone else, and Sakti -who is gay- is afraid that his mother or best friend Meimei might find out that he is.

Well, she finds out, but in a way he never imagined she would.

This film is the first BIG HIT in Indonesia where it is all about 'coming out'. Sakti and Nino will learn that in modern Indonesia, being gay is as normal as in other countries (far from the reality, but common in some areas of Indonesia).

Screaming girls in the cinema when Sakti and Nino first kiss. No sensor in Indosia, and that is surprising!!

Over all, this film is not only good because it doesn't show any stereo type Indonesian gays (mostly transsexuals or overacting feminate gays), but two people like everone else. It is also a film technically quite good, although the editing could have been better.

Two thumbs up for Arisan!