A snapshot of the situation in Indonesia surrounding the election earlier this year, Sunshower (Micko Boanerges, 2024) is a piece that plays on subtle storytelling and political commentary. The film follows Director Boanerges as he returns to his grandparents house in the countryside, to the backdrop of the country facing a period of uncertainty over the next president.
Director Boanerges paints a picture which is intimate yet touches on a number of wide reaching talking points of the Indonesian political wilderness. For most of Sunshower (2024), we see the director and his grandparents doing daily activities. The set up is simple yet poignant, somewhat celebrating the day to day, the mundane. At points, the presidential election seems to take the backseat in Sunshower (2024). The film still manages to present plenty of talking points from the state of current Indonesian politics. Whilst often not addressing them directly, Director Boanerges introduces these different themes without them weighing down on the overall tone. Issues that have shaped the electoral climate in recent years, such as certain subtle undertones of religion which has always bubbled under. Various scenes where the family are eating, are perhaps callbacks to the infamous campaign claims that as president, Prabowo would introduce free meals.
Sunshower (2024) is a very much welcomed, nuanced look into Indonesian political issues. It sits in stark contrast with how Indonesian mass media, some examples of which are seen and heard in Sunshower, discusses these topics. In our media environment we more often than not hear and see less substance but more soundbites. May that be on TV or on phone screens, the content is of low quality, hovering on hateful and pondering divisiveness. Throughout the film, there was only one instance of substantial political discourse–and it wasn’t a direct discussion about the elections. The grandparents can be heard talking about their reflections on the rife corruption in Indonesia, on a local, perhaps cultural level, sharing their personal experiences with the issue. Firstly, it highlights the severity of the subject but secondly, and more importantly, it is typical. It’s how these types of talks ideally should be done, again returning to the contrast with the maliciousness found in the media.
Sunshower (2024) is most effective in underlining the disjointedness between the political class and the people, going hand in hand with that of those in the city and the countryside. How it is in black and white, how the story ebbs and flows in idleness and bliss, Director Boanerges presents a gray area; one defiant of the raucous, chaotic state of current politics and the mass media portrayal, but not completely disconnected from it. Sunshower (2024) is a tacit yet still touching portrait of both personal and political reflections and the inhibiting space in between. (Aradi Ghalizha) (Ed. Vanis)
Film Details
Sunshower (Hujan Panas)
Micko Boanerges | 60 Min | 2024 | Bangka Belitung
In Competition for Indonesia Feature-Length
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024
Screening Schedule
Nov. 5 | 13:00 WIB | IFI-LIP
Nov. 7 | 19:00 WIB | Ruang Seminar, TBY
