Under The Tree (2008) Review : Balinese Culture, Family, and Symbolism

 

Under the Tree | 2008 | 1h 44m
Genre: Drama | Country: Indonesia
Director: Garin Nugroho | Writers: Aramantono, Garin Nugroho
Cast: Marcella Zalianty, Ayu Laksmi, Nadia Saphira
IMDb: 6.8
My Rating: 7/10

On the magical island of Bali, three women—Maharani, Dewi, and Nian—face their own struggles while searching for answers to the deeper questions of life, family, and belonging.

Warning:

None

 

Synopsis of Under the Tree

Maharani (Marcella Zalianty) travels from Jakarta to Bali in search of her origins. She was adopted by a woman but has always wanted to find her biological mother. According to information she receives from a fortune teller, her mother was a dancer.

This eventually leads Maharani to Kaler, a dance instructor. However, her search quickly becomes entangled with a number of other problems, including a child trafficking case.

Dewi (Ayu Laksmi) is a radio announcer who is currently pregnant. Her husband's absence has become a source of questions among the people around her. But beneath the gossip, Dewi is dealing with a much more painful reality: her unborn child has been diagnosed with a disability and is not expected to live long after birth.

Dewi must decide whether to give birth to her child despite the risks or terminate the pregnancy. She has not yet told her husband, leaving her to carry the weight of this difficult decision largely on her own.

Nian (Nadia Saphira) is a young artist who has “escaped” to Bali to distance herself from conflict with her father. Having grown up without feeling that she had a loving or dependable father figure, Nian meets Darma, an elderly painter who makes her feel as though she has finally found the father figure she has been searching for.

Nian begins following Darma everywhere, unconcerned that her constant presence sometimes bothers him. Her emotional state becomes even more fragile when her father becomes a suspect in a corruption case.

Although the three women face very different problems, their stories are connected by a common thread: the emotional bond between parents and children.

Will they find answers to the problems they are each struggling with?

 
Review

Di Bawah Pohon, or Under the Tree, is directed by Garin Nugroho, whose distinctive filmmaking style is impossible to separate from the film itself.

Garin fills the film with symbolism, giving it an artistic and visually expressive quality. However, this approach may make the story difficult for some viewers to follow. Understanding the film requires patience and a willingness to look more deeply into the meaning behind the symbols presented throughout the story.

Of the three storylines, Dewi's is the easiest to understand. We can clearly see the problem she is facing and follow the emotional process she goes through. Each scene feels like a natural continuation of the previous one, allowing her story to flow smoothly.

Maharani and Nian's stories, however, can be somewhat confusing. The plot shifts quickly between different moments and ideas, sometimes making their narratives feel fragmented. Even so, all three stories ultimately carry a deeper meaning.

The choice of music and sound effects is excellent and distinctive. The detailed camerawork and camera movements are also handled beautifully.

Another major strength is the way the film introduces viewers to Balinese culture. Audiences are treated to various cultural elements alongside the island's visual beauty. This makes the film not only an artistic work but also an interesting way of introducing Bali and its cultural richness to a wider audience.

For filmmakers and viewers who enjoy films with philosophical themes and layers of symbolism, Under the Tree is worth exploring.

 
Memorable Scene

Dewi, overwhelmed by uncertainty about the child she is carrying, sings about life and death while eating an egg. The egg becomes a symbol of the fetus growing inside her.

As Dewi sings, her voice becomes increasingly frustrated. She repeatedly cracks the egg in her hand, turning the simple action into an expression of the emotional turmoil she is experiencing.

The scene allows viewers to feel the conflicting emotions inside Dewi—love, fear, confusion, and frustration. Ayu Laksmi's performance and facial expressions make the moment even more powerful and memorable.

 
Memorable Dialogue

“My beloved child, you were born from different stories.”

 

Ending

Cliffhanger

 

Recommendation

Worth watching.

 

(Aluna Uwie)

Had been published in Alunauwie.com

"This article was originally written in Indonesian and has been adapted into English for international readers."

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