Love Story (2011 film)
Encyclopedia
Love Story is a 2011 Indonesian film
directed by Hanny Saputra
. It stars Irwansyah
and Acha Septriasa
) and Galih (Irwansyah
) are childhood friends whose villages are separated by a river. As children, they work together to try and bring education to their respective villages. As they grow older, they begin to fall in love and make plans to marry. However, the villagers forbid them from doing so, as they believe that if the villages are united by a marriage then disaster will strike; Galih's parents take him to the city to quash their love.
Years pass and Ranti becomes a teacher, teaching in the wild as she does not have a schoolhouse. Eventually Galih returns, bringing enough funds to begin construction and planning to propose to Ranti. The schoolhouse is built and the villagers are happy, but after Galih proposes to Ranti her family locks her in her house. Galih is ostracized and blamed for all the village's misfortunes. Although he falls ill, he continues to improve the schoolhouse. When it is finished, the villagers relent and allow Ranti and Galih to be married.
Acha Septriasa was cast for the role of Ranti, while her ex-boyfriend Irwansyah was chosen for the role of Galih. This is the third romance starring the two, after Heart
and Love is Cinta
; it is also expected to be the last. Although at first she worried that the chemistry between the two would be awkward, they were able to settle into a professional relationship; she later described their current status as being "like brother and sister". Irwansyah's then-girlfriend and later wife Zaskia Sungkar
was onset at times, such as during a kissing scene mandated by the script.
, as Indonesia is seen as being at a crossroads, with some adhering closely to adat
and others going with the "modern" lifestyle.
noted that fans of Irwansyah and Septriasa's early collaborations would enjoy it.
Cinema of Indonesia
Though the cinema of Indonesia has a long history, the industry is currently struggling and developing.-Colonial era:The first film made in Indonesia was the 1926 silent film, Loetoeng Kasaroeng, by Dutch directors G. Kruger and L. Heuveldorp...
directed by Hanny Saputra
Hanny Saputra
Hanny R. Saputra is an Indonesian director. One of his films, Under the Protection of Ka'Bah, is Indonesia's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in the 84th Academy Awards.-Biography:...
. It stars Irwansyah
Irwansyah
Irwansyah is an Indonesian actor and singer. Irwansyah released his first solo album, Soliter, in 2008.-Biography:Irwansyah was born in Jakarta on 6 March 1985. He has two younger brothers, Hafiz and Andhika...
and Acha Septriasa
Acha Septriasa
Jelita Septriasa , better known by her stage name of Acha Septriasa, is an Indonesian actress. She was born in Jakarta, Indonesia.-Biography:...
Plot
Ranti (Acha SeptriasaAcha Septriasa
Jelita Septriasa , better known by her stage name of Acha Septriasa, is an Indonesian actress. She was born in Jakarta, Indonesia.-Biography:...
) and Galih (Irwansyah
Irwansyah
Irwansyah is an Indonesian actor and singer. Irwansyah released his first solo album, Soliter, in 2008.-Biography:Irwansyah was born in Jakarta on 6 March 1985. He has two younger brothers, Hafiz and Andhika...
) are childhood friends whose villages are separated by a river. As children, they work together to try and bring education to their respective villages. As they grow older, they begin to fall in love and make plans to marry. However, the villagers forbid them from doing so, as they believe that if the villages are united by a marriage then disaster will strike; Galih's parents take him to the city to quash their love.
Years pass and Ranti becomes a teacher, teaching in the wild as she does not have a schoolhouse. Eventually Galih returns, bringing enough funds to begin construction and planning to propose to Ranti. The schoolhouse is built and the villagers are happy, but after Galih proposes to Ranti her family locks her in her house. Galih is ostracized and blamed for all the village's misfortunes. Although he falls ill, he continues to improve the schoolhouse. When it is finished, the villagers relent and allow Ranti and Galih to be married.
Production
Love Story was based on the Indonesian folk tale of Joko Angin-angin and Dewi Bulan. It was directed by Hanny Saputra and filmed before Ramadhan 2010.Acha Septriasa was cast for the role of Ranti, while her ex-boyfriend Irwansyah was chosen for the role of Galih. This is the third romance starring the two, after Heart
Heart (2006 film)
Heart is a 2006 Indonesian film directed by Hanny R Saputra and starring Nirina Zubir, Irwansyah and Acha Septriasa. The films soundtrack features the popular duet "My Heart" between Irwansyah and Acha Septriana, which won Best Song at the MTV Indonesia Movie Awards in 2006...
and Love is Cinta
Love is Cinta
Love is Cinta is a 2007 Indonesian romantic drama film directed by Hanny Saputra and starring Irwansyah, Raffi Ahmad, Acha Septriasa and Nirina Zubir.-Cast:*Raffi Ahmad*Henidar Amroe*Irwansyah*Juwita Maritsa*Tio Pakusodewo*Andhika Pratama...
; it is also expected to be the last. Although at first she worried that the chemistry between the two would be awkward, they were able to settle into a professional relationship; she later described their current status as being "like brother and sister". Irwansyah's then-girlfriend and later wife Zaskia Sungkar
Zaskia Sungkar
-Biography:Sungkar was born in Jakarta on 22 December 1990. She is the eldest child of actor Mark Sungkar and Fanny Bauty. Her younger sister, Shireen Sungkar, is also an actress....
was onset at times, such as during a kissing scene mandated by the script.
Themes
According to producer Chand Parwez, Love Story is a story of forbidden love, However, it does not touch on the theme of religious differences; instead, it is meant to show that love is worth fighting for. Saputra says that it is also a commentary on globalizationGlobalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
, as Indonesia is seen as being at a crossroads, with some adhering closely to adat
Adat
Adat in Indonesian-Malay culture is the set of cultural norms, values, customs and practices found among specific ethnic groups in Indonesia, the southern Philippines and Malaysia...
and others going with the "modern" lifestyle.
Release and reception
Love Story received wide release on 27 January 2011, with Septriasa and Irwansyah also providing vocals for a soundtrack album. A review for 21 Cineplex21 Cineplex
21 Cineplex is the largest movie theater chain in Indonesia. It serves 29 cities in Indonesia.Along with the demands of the times, 21 Cineplex Group has conducted a number of improvements and innovations, among which are to form a network movie theater into 3 separate brands, namely Cinema 21,...
noted that fans of Irwansyah and Septriasa's early collaborations would enjoy it.