Falling in Love like in the movies

 "Falling in Love Like In the Movies" (2020) is like a play within a play.  At the beginning Bagus, a film writer meets Hana at a supermarket.  Bagus remembers his old love for Hana and feels his love revived.  He comes up with an idea to impress her and approaches his producer, Pak Yoram with an idea for a new film story.  He starts writing a romantic movie to impress Hana with the idea of falling in love like in the movies--the ones that always have a happy ending.

There is a problem.  She is a grieving widow who feels no interest in romance.  Most of the rest of the movie consists of frank talks between Bagus and Hana and Bagus and Pak Yoram.  With Hana it is delicate as he tells her his movie idea and while she insists she is not in the market they play word games.  With the producer it is mostly about how can they turn it into a viable film and Bagus is very persistent.

The two film makers discuss turning the film to black and white and we viewers are also switched.  They discuss what actors take the roles.  Bagus agrees to Julie Estelle who is well regarded, but for the male he resists a suggestion of a big male star, but accepts Dion Wiyoko with more hair.

Other people get involved to make it a viable movie.  Over time they identify the real Hana.  Julie Estelle feels Bagus has not allowed enough room for Hana to grieve.  Adjustments are made for the film script and for reality.  The level of frankness is astonishing with its dual purpose; as a romantic lever and a viable film.  Hana understands his general motivation and even tries to make suggestions, but is adamant she is no mood for a romance.

Did I mention this all takes place in Indonesia?  Indonesia is a very populous country, (over 280 million) but only in the last few decades have their movie theatres approached the level of the economic powers of the cinema world.  In the meantime they have been developing the skills needed to produce more than horror films.  Netflix has seized an opportunity and gotten involved in financing and distributing Indonesian films and we are all benefitting.

This film is a good example of a worthy film and here are a few of those responsible.

Yandy Laurens was the director and writer.  He has also directed commercials and music videos.  Yandrey has 13 writing credits, 14 for directing and 1 for the script and continuity department including "Cemara's Family" (2018) and " A Brother and 7 Siblings" (2024).  See   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/01/cemaras-family.html  and  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/07/a-brother-and-7-siblings.html

Ernest Prakasa was a producer.  He used being an ethnic Chinese (in Indonesia) to become a standup comedian.  Ernest has 16 writing credits, 36 acting credits and 19 for producing.

Ofel Obaja Setiawan was the music director.  He has 31 composing credits, 3 for the music department and 1 for soundtrack including "One Day We Will Talk About Today" (2020), "Cemara's Family" (2022) and "A Brother and 7 Siblings" (2024).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2026/06/one-day-well-talk-about-today.html 

Dimas Bagus Triatma Yoga was the cinematographer.  He has 21 cinematography credits including "A Brother and 7 Siblings" (2024).

Hendra Adhi Susanto was the editor.  Hendra has 25 editor credits and 4 for the editor department including "Cemara's Family" (2018), "One Day We Will Talk About Today" (2020), "13 Bombs" (2023), "A Brother and 7 Siblings" (2024) and "Heartbreak Motel" (2024).   See the second film review in   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/12/two-year-end-film-reviews.html

Ringgo Agus Rahman played Bagus.  He had been a radio host starting in 2005 and interviewed well known director Hanung Bramanthyo who gave him a role that got his film career started.  Ringgo has 57 acting credits including "Cemara's Family" (2018), "Cemara's Family 2" (2022), "A Brother and 7 Siblings" (2024) and as the lovable dad in "Call Me Dad" (2025).  See   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/call-me-dad.html

Nirina Zubir played Hana.  She was born in Madagascar where her father was an Indonesian diplomat.  She studied economics and went onto being a radio DJ and a model.  Nirina is fluent in Mandarin (her father was also a diplomat in China) and English.  Her Mandarin allowed her to interpret for a prominent politician.  She has 40 acting credits including "Cemara's Family" (2018), "Ali & the Queens"--filmed mostly in New York City (2021) and "Cemera's Family 2" (2022).

Alex Abbad played Pak Yoram, a producer.  He has been a poet and a musician.  Alex has 40 acting credits.

Sheila Dara Aisha played a film editor.  She has 32 acting credits and 3 for soundtrack including ""One Day We Will Talk About Today" (2020), "Cigarette Girl" (2023) "A Brother and 7 Siblings" (2024) and "Heartbreak Motel" (2024).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/11/cigarette-girl.html

Julie Estelle played herself as an established actress.  Her father was French, enabling her to speak fluent French as well as English and Indonesian.  She has 22 acting credits and will be producing an upcoming production.

Donne Maula plays Denny.  He started in musical theatre and is better known for singing and dancing through albums and videos.  He 3 acting credit, 1 for composing and 1 for producing. 

"Falling Love Like In the Movies" is available on Netflix subtitled.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  Some of them are among my favourite Indonesian films and a big part of my Indonesian obsession.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up.