Review Of The Ballad Of A Crazy Lover Couple, A Unique Theme But Less Beautiful

The Ballad of a Crazy Couple (Photo: KlikFilm)

JAKARTA - The Ballad of a Crazy Lover opens with a scene from Djarot, played by Denny Sumargo, in an isolation room. The screams in a dark cramped room immediately terrorized the audience and were invited to know how to handle ODGJ in a mental hospital.

Then the figure of Lastri, played by Sara Fajira, appeared mocked and stoned by the children for being crazy. Anggy Umbara introduces the character of Lastri through the voice of a boy who will continue to guide this film until the end.

Perhaps it was this voice that gave Anggy a pause in explaining the conditions experienced by crazy people. Lastri then exploited, raped together by depraved men.

Misfortune seems to be Lastri's way of life, after being imprisoned, Lastri is framed as a prostitute. Lastri questioned herself. With the help of medicine, for a while, Lastri could control her mind. Lastri became restless and restless because she felt that being crazy was more dignified than being a WTS.

In turn, in a fairly long duration of more than half of the film, Lastri and Djarot are presented with their lives. This time Djarot can be released from the mental hospital. But being free on your own doesn't make you independent.

Even when Djarot tried to scavenge, there were people who stole the results. Djarot languished, starving to the point of questioning where God was.

As a madman, Denny Sumargo and Sara Fajira show their totality and effort to bring karater to life. In addition to appearance, Denny changed vocal color. Sara Fajira looks cute in different phases from crazy, almost crazy, normal, to crazy again.

Actually, the theme raised by Anggy Umbara and Han Gagas as the screenwriters is quite unique. There are not many Indonesian films that invite the audience to dive into the life of a madman, forced to go crazy, or 'crazed' by circumstances. They seem very serious trying to describe how crazy people still have feelings.

In addition, the issue of sexual harassment is emphasized several times in this film. Anggy satirically shows how the perpetrators of sexual harassment did not see their victims. Crazy people just raped! Shabby and dirty clothes, unkempt appearances remain their victims. It hurts to see it even traumatic for the women who watch it.

So if anyone thinks that the rape happened because of the victim's clothes, they should think again by watching this film. It's a bit difficult to grasp this meaning if you don't watch this film calmly and relaxed. Because it is undeniable that it happens in society.

Maybe it's because of this heavy theme that the film Balada A Pair of Crazy Loves loses its enjoyment as a visual and audio work. The long-winded character introduction also makes the audience's bounding on the love story in this film not felt.

Despite trying to lighten the mood with a state comedy, it seems as lovers Lastri and Djarot fail to wake up. Especially when Anggy tries to put them into a normal relationship in marriage, this becomes even more awkward.

The back and forth of Djarot and Lastri's psychological narrative is confusing. Especially when they have to be forced always in misfortune. Fortunately, 1 hour 30 minutes of watching time was not wasted with a surprise ending that pierced the chest.