Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly

Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly (Indonesian: Babi Buta yang Ingin Terbang) is a 2008 Indonesian drama film written, directed, and produced by Edwin. Starring fellow filmmaker Joko Anwar and Ladya Cheryl, it is Edwin's feature film debut after a string of critically acclaimed short films.

Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly
Babi Buta yang Ingin Terbang
Directed byEdwin
Written byEdwin
Produced byEdwin
Sidi Saleh
Meiske Taurisia
StarringJoko Anwar
Clarine Baharrizki
Ladya Cheryl
CinematographySidi Saleh
Edited byHerman Panca
Music byBontel
Production
company
Distributed byBabibutafilm (Indonesia)
Filmmuseum Distributie (Netherlands)
Release date
  • October 3, 2008 (2008-10-03)
CountryIndonesia
LanguageIndonesian
Budget$ 250,000
Box office$ 344

Renowned filmmakers Mira Lesmana and Riri Riza are credited as associate producers of the film alongside Kemal Arsjad.

Synopsis

edit

The experiences of a woman and the people around her, all with obsessive agendas of their own. A fragile but panoramic vision of a community that is not at ease with itself—and hopes that can never be truly fulfilled.

Cast

edit
  • Joko Anwar as Yahya
  • Ladya Cheryl as Linda
    • Clairine Baharrizki as young Linda
  • Andhara Early as Salma
  • Carlo Genta as Cahyono
  • Pong Harjatmo as Halim
  • Wicaksono as Helmi

Release

edit

The film was released domestically in Indonesia on 3 October 2008 and on 11 September 2009 in the United States. It had a successful festival run, winning awards at the Golden Horse Film Festival in Taiwan, the Three Continents Festival in France, the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and the Singapore International Film Festival in Singapore.

Reception

edit

Box office

edit

Despite positive critical response and multiple festival wins, he film did not perform well at the box office, only grossing $344 during its limited run.

Critical response

edit

Writing for The New York Times, critic Mike Hale described the film as "a series of vignettes, practically blackouts, that jump back and forth in time", praising the direction and performances as well as depictions of gay characters, calling the sex scene "discreetly filmed but more matter of fact — and funnier than anything in Hollywood’s recent spate of bromances". Hale went on to compare Edwin favorably to Thai film auteur Pen-ek Ratanaruang.[1]

Awards and nominations

edit
Year Award Category Recipients Result
2008 Busan International Film Festival New Currents Award Edwin Nominated
2008 Cinemanila International Film Festival Best Film Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly Nominated
2009 Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema Best Film Nominated
2009 Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards NETPAC Award Edwin Won
2009 Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival Golden Hanoman Award Nominated
2009 Nantes Three Continents Festival Golden Montgolfiere Nominated
Silver Montgolfiere Won
Young Audience Award Won
2009 International Film Festival Rotterdam Tiger Award Nominated
FIPRESCI Prize Won
2009 Singapore International Film Festival NETPAC Award Special Mention Won

References

edit
  1. ^ Hale, Mike (10 September 2009). "Feeling Like Aliens in Their Own Land (Published 2009)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
edit