JAKARTA - Successful with Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap, director Bene Dion again raises his personal concerns as a Batak to the big screen.
Through his latest film, Bene wants to highlight the dichotomy between the Batak people who live in their hometowns and those who were born and raised in big cities like Jakarta.
Bene revealed a phenomenon where "Batak Kota" is often considered not to love culture because they don't understand the details of adat. Through this film, he wants to invite the audience to rethink the dynamic cultural identity.
"We can't compare Batak who was born in the village with Batak in the city because the environment is different. So I want to tell and invite everyone to think again," said Bene Dion recently.
This film brings a unique but relatable premise: a Batak child born in Jakarta who is forced by his father to go home and become a legislative candidate (caleg). From here, the clash between the parents' wishes and the child's personal dreams begins.
"The father is a successful lawyer who wants his son to obey, while his son has other desires. From there, there has been a clash of families that has become one of the main conflicts," explained Bene Dion.
When asked about the existence of social criticism against the world of practical politics - given the premise about the candidate - Bene Dion gave a hanging answer that sparked curiosity.
"Later just watch the movie. Politics? There is, there is, there is," he said laughing.
Ernest Prakasa added that despite being set in the Batak culture, Bene's written conflict between parents and children always manages to appear universal.
"Maybe Bene really has a lot of unrest in that area. That's what makes it relatable to all tribes," concluded Ernest.
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