Movie Review Balada Sepasang Kekasih Gila (2021)

 

Balada Sepasang Kekasih Gila | 2021 | 1h 30m
Genre: Drama/Crime | Country: Indonesia
Director: Anggy Umbara | Writers: Anggy Umbara, Han Gagas
Cast: Denny Sumargo, Sara Fajira, Vera Sharoon, etc.
IMDb: 6.3
My Rate: 8/10

Djarot and Lastri, two individuals considered "crazy" by society, find love amidst a world that seems even more chaotic than they are. Their pasts are shrouded in darkness, and they embark on a journey to discover the essence of life.

Warning:

Contains sexual scenes and violence.

 

Synopsis of Balada Sepasang Kekasih Gila:

Lastri (Sara Fajira), a person with mental illness, is constantly harassed by the people around her. Her presence is seen as a threat and nuisance. She is forced to leave her home and wanders the streets until she is kidnapped and raped by a group of thugs.

Lastri retaliates by castrating the man who assaulted her. This leads to her imprisonment for a period of time before she is released by a woman claiming to be her aunt's acquaintance. However, she is forced into prostitution, serving men of ill repute.

Djarot (Denny Sumargo), a man with a low IQ, is accused of being a communist after killing several people who bullied him. He is confined to a mental institution and subjected to harsh treatment during his initial isolation. Eventually, he manages to integrate with the other patients.

After his condition is deemed to have improved, Djarot is released from the mental institution. Aimless, he wanders the streets, doing whatever he can to survive, like scavenging and foraging for food from garbage bins. Despite this, he also experiences several unpleasant incidents.

Feeling increasingly broken, Lastri decides to run away. During her escape, she encounters Djarot, who tries to help her. Djarot does everything in his power to free Lastri from the pursuit of the guards at the institution where she was forced into prostitution, even suffering serious injuries in the process. A feeling of "love" blossoms between them, but fate intervenes and separates them.

What happens to Lastri and Djarot's lives next?

 

Review of Balada Sepasang Kekasih Gila:

Balada Sepasang Kekasih Gila is a film produced by KlikFilm, adapted from a novel of the same name by Han Gagas. The story idea is quite intriguing, presenting a unique perspective. It seems to aim to show a picture of the world through the eyes of people considered "unhinged."

The story is interestingly narrated by a young child, making it feel more meaningful. The narration is also presented with aesthetically pleasing language, with wordplay that focuses more on psychological games and thought patterns.

Unfortunately, the foundation of the story feels weak, especially the backgrounds of the characters. There are several inconsistencies, making the story's direction unclear. The dialogues also feel forced, as if they are trying to convey messages of humanity that don't flow naturally and come across as stiff.

The reason behind Lastri's mental illness or the type of mental illness she suffers from is not explained. Although there is a scene where she is given medication to prevent hallucinations. Lastri suddenly becomes "sane" when she is in prison, evident in her change of attitude. However, during her escape, she seems to become "crazy" again.

Unlike Lastri, who is imprisoned for her crimes, Djarot is only rehabilitated in a mental institution. Even though they are both "crazy" and commit crimes that can be said to be almost the same. However, the inconsistency lies in the punishment they receive.

Djarot is also released from his rehabilitation period as if he has been deemed sane. However, there is no visible difference from the time he entered until he left the hospital. The audience is left a little confused by the condition of both of them, as if their madness comes and goes.

Another inconsistency is regarding the search for the true nature of God. The narration is presented as if it is based on a specific religious perspective, Christianity. This is also reinforced by the appearance of the Bible in one scene, and Lastri also confirms her religion. However, the wedding is suddenly conducted using Islamic rituals. This creates confusion.

The acting of the actors is quite good. Denny Sumargo, who has experience, is undoubtedly not to be doubted. Unexpectedly, Sara Fajira, who uses this film as her debut, also shows acting skills that are no less impressive. Unfortunately, the costumes and makeup used look less than optimal.

Although there are some scenes that don't make sense, if we change our perspective while watching this film, we can understand the events that occur in it. Unfortunately, the ending feels a little forced.

Overall, this film is quite good with some good messages about humanity. There are still many things that can be explored and optimized.

 

Memorable Scene:

Lastri has to be separated from Djarot after the pickup truck they used to hide in suddenly starts moving. Lastri, realizing she has lost Djarot, shows her sadness by crying throughout the journey. Likewise, Djarot, realizing that Lastri has disappeared, also cries over her departure.

In this scene, it is evident that the characters have a sense of connection with each other. They seem to question whether this meeting will happen again or not. A complex expression.

 

Memorable Dialogue:

"Humans are too busy worshipping their own thoughts."

 

Ending:

Sad Ending

 

Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

 

(Aluna)