Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly

Colour, 35 mm
Indonesia, 2008, 77 min
Section: Another View

Synopsis

Linda, Cahyono, and Salma are just a few of the characters in an intimate mosaic whose composition leads to an awakening of feelings of equanimity among the protagonists and even the audience. Although peopled with characters expressing their internal tension in nontraditional ways, the movie is a subtle work whose expansiveness transcends borders, despite being set in a specific geographical location. The story takes a close-up (though not voyeuristic) look at the lives of its characters, and comments on steps that Indonesian society has taken or should be taking. Progress and rigidity stand virtually side-by-side here, while director Edwin addresses the viewer through modern means, managing to elicit existential questions without resorting to speechifying. Similar to his numerous short films, the director displays a sense of detail and unfettered sexuality, and an ability to imbue ordinary objects with metaphorical significance, while telling complicated stories to the point.

About the director

Edwin (b. 1978, Surabaya) is a successful director of short films and one of Indonesia’s most promising filmmakers. He graduated in graphic design, then went on to film school in Jakarta. His film Kara, Daughter of a Tree (Kara, anak sebatang pohon, 2005) was the first Indonesian short to be screened at Cannes. He was inspired by the aesthetics of silent film in Dajang Soembi: The Woman Who Is Married to a Dog (Dajang Soembi: Perempoean jang dikawini andjing, 2004), and the raw digital work Trip to the Wound (2007) competed at the renowned short film festival in Clermont-Ferrand. Edwin also took part in the story showcase 98-08 (2008), a work which takes stock of reform efforts in Indonesia after the fall of Suharto. Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly, the director’s feature debut, won the FIPRESCI Prize at the festival in Rotterdam.