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 has 3 acting credits, 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.

KARTINI , Princess of Java Feminist leader in Indonesia

Netflix is helping to make the world a smaller place with bigger minds.  The West has taken the lead in women's rights and to some extent have led women from the third world to more power.   Watching the struggles from an earlier time and a far away place helps one appreciate the obstacles better.  Kartini...." 2017) from Indonesia offers a view of one women's efforts to free herself from a rigid social structure that many of us cannot imagine.

Colonial powers are not often thought of as bringing benefits to the lands they had conquered.  In a real sense they have gained more than they gave.  In the English speaking world we might  not be very aware that the Dutch were a major colonial power.  They controlled much of what we know as Indonesia, one of the largest populations in the world.  In this film they appear benevolent and tolerant, but a documentary seen while writing this blog points out the Dutch were also heavily involved in slavery and just as cold calculating and cruel as anyone else.

Kartini grew up in a privileged family in Java, but that came with restrictions.  She had a brother who steered her to more knowledge and she made contact with Dutch educated women who encouraged her.  There was resistance from her extended family but gradually progress was made.  

Women were not allowed higher education.  When they started menstruation women like Kartini were secluded from outside contact.  They could be forced into polygamous marriages at an early age.  Deference to a hierarchy of powers was expected.  One example was women approaching royalty crouched and walking in a very awkward manner. 

Kartina was able to talk to a Muslim scholar and learned that he considered it a duty for both men and women to seek more knowledge.  He pointed out that most Muslims preferred to read the Quar'an in Arabic and failed to understand the full meaning of the words.

She and two of her sisters were able to set up teaching in their home for younger children.  She wrote books and articles that were published in the Netherlands and successfully promoted local engraving which increased her leverage.

In the end she kept being pressured to be married, to a man with a wife.  She finally agreed to the marriage if certain conditions were met--not be asked to perform many of the normal duties of wives such as washing her husband's feet, and to be supported in setting up a school.  Most felt he would not accept these conditions, however when they actually met it turned out his now deceased wife had admired Kartini and wanted her children to be taught by her.  He agreed and they were married and she was able to set up a school.

Robert Ronny, the producer and co-writer had graduated from the New York Film Academy and returned to Indonesia.  He wrote, directed and produced many movies and tv shows.   He formed Legacy Pictures, a production house to put out quality films in 2014.  An award winner.

Hanung Bramatyo, the director and co-writer  got his start as director in 1998 with a short film, "Tlutor" that won a local award.  His first feature film was in 2004.  He did mainly romantic, teenage dramas, sports films.  In 2011 he directed a film, "Tande Tanyo? that dealt with 3 different religions in a pluralistic manner, attracting some criticism.  He once said he wanted to be known as "a fighter against stupidity and ignorance."

The cinematography is by Fauzan Rizal.  An ocean sequence is captivating and there are other examples.  His work on this film was nominated for a national award.  He directed "Habibie and Ainun" (2012) which is one of my favorite films seen this year. 

Pleasant background music was provided by veteran composers, Charlie Meliala and Andi Rianto.   At the end credits is a tune by popular song writer, Mellyn Goleslaw, joined by Gita Gatawi.  You can listen to it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C0ZtMMmi5c

There are some interesting edit cuts which were handled by Wawan I. Wabowo.  He had been nominated for a national award for his work on "Kartini and also "Habibie and Ainun."

 Dian Sastrowardoyo played the lead role handsomely.  She had to play a submissive young woman who asserted her will in male structured world.  She was a cover girl winner for a teenage magazine in 1996.  In 2005 at an Asian regional festival held in France she won an award as most promising newcomer.  In 2009 she started a foundation to promote education, women empowerment and Indonesian culture.  She has played a variety of roles, romantic, a refugee, and an assassin. 

During the pandemic it seems our world is closing in on us, but thanks to modern technology we have access to a much wider world.  It is my sincere belief you can expand your mind by searching out the best the rest of the world has to offer.  In the way of film entertainment "Kartina'"is a good example.  This is my second Indonesian film enjoyed this year, but thanks to Netflix and my local library I have visited many other nations.