Gie (2005)

Gie | 2005 | 2h 27m
Genre: Docudrama / Period Drama / Biography / Drama / History | Country: Indonesia
Director: Riri Riza | Writer: Riri Riza
Cast: Nicholas Saputra, Jonathan Mulia, Thomas Nawilis
IMDb: 7.6
My Rate: 9/10

Based on Soe Hok Gie's journal, Gie follows Gie and his friends as they struggle to stand up for justice amid Indonesia's turbulent political climate, often putting themselves in difficult and dangerous situations.

 

Warning

Contains scenes of violence, strong language, smoking, sensual scenes, and sensitive themes.

 

Synopsis of Gie

Gie (Jonathan Mulia) is a highly critical teenager whose father, a writer, strongly influences the way he thinks. An avid reader, Gie becomes somewhat arrogant and believes he already understands everything. He frequently argues with his teachers at school.

Gie is close friends with Han (Christian Audi), and the two are almost always together. At one point, after Gie receives a grade he considers unfair, they even consider harming their teacher. However, they abandon the plan after seeing the teacher's family.

Soon afterward, Han has to leave with his aunt, and Gie loses his closest friend.

As an adult, Gie (Nicholas Saputra) finds other ways to share his ideas with the public, particularly with students. He dislikes political bias and tries to maintain a neutral position. He engages in discussions with students through filmmaking and often goes hiking with his friends.

But politics gradually begins to enter university life. Gie can no longer simply stand aside and watch. Along with his friends, he tries to prevent the campus from being exploited by politicians.

He also expresses his opinions through newspaper articles. As political tensions continue to rise, Gie's outspoken position eventually puts him in danger.

Will Gie succeed in standing by his principles?

 

Review of Gie

Gie is based on Catatan Seorang Demonstran (Notes of a Demonstrator), the diary of Soe Hok Gie, which was published in 1983. Turning a real person's diary into a film presents its own challenges because the filmmaker has to interpret personal records and transform them into a coherent cinematic story.

The performances are one of the film's strongest aspects. This is not limited to the main cast; the supporting actors also deliver convincing performances.

The storyline is structured neatly, although the romantic subplot feels somewhat out of place. From the beginning, Gie's character is established as strong-minded, critical, and rebellious. We can see this even in his teenage years, particularly when he reacts strongly to a grade he believes is unfair.

However, when Gie becomes an adult, his character feels slightly less consistent and not as strong as the younger version we are introduced to.

The use of formal language does not make the film feel stiff. Instead, it adds to the film's period atmosphere and aesthetic quality. The color composition and camera movement are also handled well, with careful attention given to the details of each scene.

The wardrobe and makeup successfully reflect the period being portrayed. The music and songs are also thoughtfully selected for each scene, while the original soundtrack adds emotional meaning to several important moments.

The film takes viewers through a range of emotions, including warmth, sadness, and tension. However, there are still some scenes that feel unnecessary, such as the conversation between Sinta and Ira about Gie.

Some other parts of the story could also have been developed more strongly so that the central message of the film would come through more clearly.

Even with these weaknesses, Gie remains an interesting film to revisit. Its historical setting, carefully constructed atmosphere, and Nicholas Saputra's performance make it particularly memorable.

Overall, this is a film that is worth watching repeatedly, especially for viewers interested in Indonesian history, political idealism, and character-driven biographical dramas.

 

Memorable Scene

Han has always dreamed of seeing the beach but has never had the chance to go.

Eventually, he finally gets to see it—but unexpectedly, it becomes his first and last visit.

The moment leaves a deep impression because Han takes his final breath in the very place he had dreamed of seeing. There is something quietly heartbreaking about finally reaching a dream only to discover that there is no future left to experience it.

 

Memorable Dialogue

"I'd rather be exiled than surrender to hypocrisy."

 

Ending

Sad Ending

 

Recommendation

Must Watch

 

(Aluna Uwie)