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Layar
| 2023 | 1h 10m
Genre: Drama | Country: Indonesia
Director: Ifa Isfansyah | Writers: Ahmad Aditya, Ifa Isfansyah
Cast: Siti Fauziah, Adi Marsono, Resti Praditaningtyas
IMDb: 8.7
My Rating: 6/10
Marni's determination and love for film lead her and her former colleagues to fight to revive the small cinema where they once worked.
Warning:
None
Synopsis of Layar
Marni
(Siti Fauziah) has to accept losing her job as a ticket seller at Merapi
Cinema. The small theater, which screens mostly older films using outdated
equipment, is forced to close during the pandemic.
Marni
returns to her hometown and tries to figure out what to do next.
Marni's
love for film began after her father's death. Her curiosity about his habit of
watching movies eventually led her to work at the cinema, after spending years
as a moviegoer and film enthusiast herself. Now that she has lost her job,
Marni feels uncertain because she does not think she has any other skills that
could help her find work.
She
meets a neighbor who used to work as a newspaper writer and now works as a
content creator. Their conversation gives Marni an idea: perhaps she can revive
Merapi Cinema with the help of her former colleagues.
But
the plan will not be easy. Marni also has to compete with the cinema's owner,
who intends to sell the building.
Their
struggle finally shows a glimmer of hope when a film producer becomes
interested in holding a premiere at Merapi Cinema. Marni and her colleagues
work hard to raise enough money to make the cinema operational again before the
producer arrives for an inspection.
They
sell food online and even put some of the cinema's old movie posters up for
sale.
Will
they succeed in bringing the cinema back to life?
Review
Layar
has a fairly interesting premise about the impact of the pandemic on the cinema
business.
During
the pandemic, many activities involving large groups of people had to stop, and
cinemas were among the businesses heavily affected. It is easy to imagine how
many small theaters struggled to survive without regular income.
However,
this promising premise loses some of its logical consistency because of several
details presented throughout the film.
There
is a scene where the characters try to attract local residents to a drive-in
screening they are planning. One resident says that if they are only showing
old films, people might as well watch them on television without spending any
money.
This
is a reasonable argument, and it could actually explain why Merapi Cinema was
already struggling before the pandemic: the theater mainly showed older films.
There
are several factors that could have provided a more convincing explanation for
why the cinema was failing. The equipment is outdated, the films being shown
are not new releases, and the building and its location no longer seem
particularly suitable for a modern cinema.
Yet
these factors are largely ignored, while the pandemic is presented as the main
reason for the cinema's closure.
The
characters' efforts to revive the theater also do not fully address these
problems, even though they could have been developed into meaningful obstacles
for the story.
There
is another inconsistency involving the cinema's relationship with the
surrounding community. A pedicab driver and a cake seller say that the cinema
is one of their biggest sources of income. But according to the cinema owner,
the theater has been losing money for a long time, suggesting that not many
people actually come to watch movies there.
These
two details create a contradiction in the film's portrayal of the cinema's
economic importance.
The
timeline also feels inconsistent. The story takes place around the pandemic, a
very contemporary period, yet the color grading gives the film an old-fashioned
atmosphere. Even the vehicle used by the famous producer looks like something
from an earlier era.
Another
moment that feels difficult to believe is when local residents gather together
and donate their savings simply to help reopen the cinema. Later, a businessman
arrives and is willing to become an investor.
As a
businessman, however, it would be reasonable to expect him to consider the
potential profits and losses of the investment rather than becoming involved
primarily because of “memories.”
Layar
has the potential to become a stronger film. The scenes could also have been
arranged with a smoother flow. There are several moments and conversations that
feel disconnected because they seem too focused on delivering the writer's
idealistic message.
Spoiler
alert.
The
ending is also somewhat unsatisfying. After the cinema finally reopens, there
is little indication that it has actually become successful again.
It
would have been more satisfying to see the cinema filled with audiences again,
or to see some other visible change showing that Marni and her colleagues had
genuinely succeeded in reviving it and that their efforts had positively
affected the surrounding community.
The
performances are another area that could have been stronger. Most of the actors
come from a theater background, and at times their performances feel somewhat
stiff. The same applies to the dialogue and its delivery.
Some
actors still appear to carry their stage-acting style into the film,
particularly through exaggerated facial expressions and gestures that can feel
unnatural in a cinematic setting.
Despite
these shortcomings, Layar remains an interesting film to watch. It has a
promising idea and the potential to become a stronger work with further
development.
Memorable Scene
Marni's
lie to her colleagues about the planned film premiere at the cinema is
eventually revealed. Her colleagues are deeply disappointed in her.
Feeling
overwhelmed by the situation, Marni finally expresses how devastated she is by
the collapse of her dream. Interestingly, during her conversation with Wati,
Wati reminds her that it is not only Marni's dream that has been shattered—it
is also the dream of the people who have been struggling alongside her.
This
scene shows how Marni feels responsible for carrying her ambitions and dreams
on her own. But a dream does not always have to be pursued alone.
As
long as there are people around us who share the same dream, the struggle can
become something that we carry together. Sometimes, sharing the weight of a
dream is what makes it possible to achieve it.
Memorable Dialogue
“How much does it cost to pay for a piece of evidence of a memory?”
Ending
Happy
Ending
Recommendation
Okay
to watch.
(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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