Movie Review 3 Hari Untuk Selamanya (2007)

 3 Hari untuk Selamanya | 2007 | 1h 44m
Genre: Comedy/Drama | Country: Indonesia
Director: Riri Riza | Writers: Sinar Ayu Massie
Cast: Nicholas Saputra, Adinia Wirasti, Tutie Kirana
IMDB: 7.1
My Rate: 7/10

Ambar and Yusuf, who embark on a journey to Yogyakarta to fulfill a mission of bringing a set of antique plates belonging to Ambar's family, don't realize that this journey will make them get to know themselves and also find the meaning of life they've been searching for.

Warning:

Contains sensual scenes, drugs, smoking, alcohol, strong language, and nudity.

 

Synopsis:

Yusuf (Nicholas Saputra) is given a task by his aunt to bring a set of antique plates to Yogyakarta, which will be used in the wedding of his cousin, Ambar's (Adinia Wirasti) older sister. His aunt is afraid to bring them by plane because she's worried they'll break. So, she asks Yusuf to bring them by car.

On the day of departure, Ambar, who was out drinking with her friends and Yusuf the night before, wakes up late, making her unable to join her family's group using the plane. Ambar decides to go with Yusuf by land. But, the journey that should have taken 1 day becomes 3 days because Ambar asks Yusuf to go on an adventure to several places to avoid gathering with her family.

Ambar isn't very close to her family. She has a 'free' attitude and hates having to gather and chat with other family members. This makes Ambar ask Yusuf not to go straight to Yogyakarta but to go to several places first.

Their journey leaves behind many meanings. Ambar turns out to have her own worries about her future that she's been keeping to herself. While Yusuf, who seems so devout, isn't as innocent as he appears. The journey makes them get to know each other better and exchange views about life. Arguments even erupt between them.

Do they succeed in bringing the plates safely to Yogyakarta?

 

Review:

3 Hari untuk Selamanya is a film that explores the theme of post-adolescence. This film is presented in an interesting way where the characters are on a journey. Even though this way of presentation isn't new, Riri Riza manages to present an interesting presentation.

The main characters in this film have slightly contrasting personalities. Ambar, who seems free, turns out to have worries about the future that she doesn't imagine having. While Yusuf, who seems devout and smart, isn't that devout. He also gets caught up in the world that Ambar lives in and tries to experience new and 'unique' experiences. Their story becomes interesting, where each character ends up influencing the other character's life and perspective.

This story idea is actually quite interesting, because it's definitely relatable to people around the same age as the characters, who are still searching for their identity. The execution is done well enough. But, it feels less deep. The scenes mostly show the characters 'smoking', which can be seen throughout the film. Meaningful dialogue happens in the last third of the film, like when they argue and go to Sendang Sono, otherwise there isn't too much meaningful dialogue.

The acting of the actors is very good. There's no awkwardness between the actors. We can definitely see a different side of Nicholas, who can break free from the characters he's played before, like Rangga and Gie. In this film, we can see Nicholas as Yusuf, not stuck in his old characters in other films, which often happens to some actors. The acting of the other actors also looks pretty good.

The camera movement and cinematography are done well. Every detail needed is captured and presented well. The color composition is also appropriate for each scene presented. The choice of songs also supports the atmosphere in each scene.

However, there's a scene that's unclear in meaning, which is when the screen is black and you can hear someone shouting. This scene seems to show mystery and a twist in the story. Especially when you hear the sound of something breaking, where the set of plates that Yusuf is carrying can't break. It seems to want to show a question mark to the audience, did the plates break? But, this scene feels like it was suddenly introduced. It's not very clear where it came from, which makes the audience a little confused.

The background of this scene should have been built better. So, the scene and story that have been presented well enough continue to flow. The ending is also a little less than optimal.

Overall, this film presents an interesting story to enjoy.

 

Memorable Scene:

On their journey, Ambar and Yusuf witness a traffic accident. This incident touches Ambar's heart and makes her realize the meaning of life. Ambar calls her mother from a public phone, as if a longing and fear arise within her.

Often, we encounter unexpected events that then make us realize the true meaning of life. It makes us reflect on the path and way of life we've been living.

 

Memorable Dialogue:

"What's the point of having your own thoughts if you always believe in other people's thoughts?"

 

Ending:

Cliffhanger

 

Recommendation:

Worth to watch

 

(Aluna)

(Aluna)