Help Distribute Islamic Boarding School Documentary Films In Cinemas, Lola Amaria Hopes For Blessing

Pesantren movie scene (Photo: ist)

JAKARTA - The documentary film Pesantren is ready to be shown in cinemas starting August 4. This film shows how the life of the students at Pondok Kebon Jambu Al Islamy, Cirebon.

The film Pesantren shows how the santri are not confined by the strict rules as pesantren are known in the community by showing the artistic side and the progress of the times.

The screening of this film is expected to reduce the stigma that pesantren is a center for the growth and development of radicalism. Director Salahuddin Siregar said the desire to make a two-hour documentary was the answer to the stigma.

"I made a film in 2012 when girls were admitted to a boarding school, there was a stigma that it was the wrong decision. Because pesantren is a source of radicalism," said Salahuddin at Epicentrum, Monday, July 1.

He hopes the film Pesantren can show that those worries don't exist. Instead, what exists is how pesantren tries to protect differences.

"There are several repeated scenes such as the interpretations of Ar Rahman and Ar Rahim. This is to show that teaching at the pesantren is not radical," he said.

The director's desire to distribute this film in theaters can be fulfilled. Salahuddin hopes that this film will be watched by many people outside the pesantren, so that they know the truth.

"The film Pesantren was originally released in 2019 and was shown live in Amsterdam, the Netherlands at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam. I took this film around 10 Islamic boarding schools. Initially it was released in 2019 in the Netherlands, then 2020 was supposed to be released, but the pandemic has endured and has only just gone up to theaters. August 4th with limited screens," said Lola Amalia.

"I actually saw this film in its entirety in 2018 and it was done with a German editor with a long process of processing. I said at that time that this film must be raised as a perspective that pesantren and Islam are developing very well," he continued.

Lola Amaria did not expect much from ticket sales. Moreover, the screen provided is also only tens for all of Indonesia.

"I learned the science of blessing from this film. Therefore, I don't expect revenue from ticket sales, but it's blessing. Even though few people watch it, but if it has a big impact, it's blessing," he explained.