Movie Review Under The Tree (2008)

 

Under The Tree (Original Title: Di Bawah Pohon) | 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 Rate: 7/10

Bali, a magical island, becomes the stage for Maharani, Dewi, and Nian, who struggle with their own challenges while navigating the search for the true meaning of life.

Warning:

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Synopsis of Under The Tree:

Maharani (Marcella Zalianty) comes from Jakarta to find her origins. She is the adopted child of a woman. However, Maharani desperately wants to meet her biological mother. Based on information from a fortune teller, her mother was a dancer. This eventually leads Maharani to meet Kaler, a dance instructor. Maharani gets caught up in various problems, including a child trafficking case.

Dewi (Ayu Laksmi), a radio announcer who is currently pregnant. Her husband's absence raises questions among her neighbors. Dewi harbors anxiety, as her child is diagnosed with a disability and will not live long. Dewi has to decide whether to give birth to her child with all the risks involved or abort it. Dewi hasn't told her husband yet. However, this is a very difficult problem for her.

Nian (Nadia Saphira), a young artist who 'escaped' to Bali to avoid conflict with her father. Nian, who doesn't feel the presence of a good father, meets Darma. Darma, an old painter who makes Nian feel like she has found the father figure she's been looking for. Nian always follows Darma everywhere and doesn't care that it bothers him. Nian becomes even more depressed after her father becomes a suspect in a corruption case.

Although the three women have different problems, they have a common thread, which is the story of the emotional bond between parent and child. Will they be able to find answers to their respective problems?

 

Review:

The film Di Bawah Pohon or Under The Tree is a film directed by Garin Nugroho, which has a distinctive style that cannot be separated. Garin presents this film with various symbols in it. This makes the film an artistic presentation. However, not all viewers may be able to understand the storyline easily. It takes a deep understanding to understand each symbol presented.

Of the three stories presented, Dewi's story is quite easy to understand. We know the problems Dewi is facing and all the emotional processes she feels. Each scene becomes a flowing unit of story. While Maharani and Nian's stories might be a little confusing because the plot seems to shift quickly and makes the story seem chopped up. However, overall, all the stories have a deep meaning.

The choice of music and sound effects is very good and original. The detailed camerawork and camera movement are also done very well. In addition, viewers are also treated to various things about Balinese culture. Viewers can enjoy the cultural elements and beauty displayed. This is a good thing to introduce Bali to the general public.

For filmmakers who enjoy films with deep philosophical themes, you can try watching this film.

 

Memorable Scene:

Dewi, who is confused about the child she is carrying, sings about life and death while eating an egg. The egg is a symbol of a fetus. At that time, Dewi sang with an increasingly frustrated tone and kept on cracking the egg she was holding.

In this scene, viewers can feel Dewi's mixed feelings. The acting and expressions shown by Ayu Laksmi also make this scene even more memorable.

 

Memorable Dialogue:

"My beloved child, you were born from different stories."

 

Ending:

Cliffhanger

 

Recommendation:

Worth to watch.

 

(Aluna)