Islamic Films in Indonesia:

A Highlight
Eric Sasono
January 2012
Hua Hin International Film
Festival
 Islamic Films?
Islamic films in Indonesia compared to
other religious films
Different than hagiography
(chronicles of apostles and saints),
because Islam does not acknowledge
any apostles and saints;
 Islamic Films?
Different than iconography (depiction
of religious symbols) because Islam
knows no religious relics;
 Islamic Films?
Muslim Social
Depiction of Muslim in his / her
everyday life;
Highly-related to performativity, or
how one behaves in front of others;
Islamic characteristic as a social
borderline to define ones existence;
 Islamic Films?
Portrayal of pious
Muslims
Islamic attire /
jilbab as part of
statement as
oppose to secular /
westernized
clothing;

Islamic lifestyle:
taaruf rather than
making out;
 Islamic Films?
Portrayal of pious
Muslims
Islam-based attitude
towards wealth:
ikhtiar (efforts) and
tawakal (religious
persistency) in
pursuing wealth;

Islamic reform: Islam

as a solution for
socio-political
problems;
 Why Islamic Films?
Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim country,
240 million population with over 80% Muslim;
Bigger context: the raising awareness of
religious standardization of consumption
(halal industry);
Middle-class Muslim in Indonesia, whose
growth is supported by consumer-based
economy;
Precursors: nasyid Islami (Islamic acapela),
Islamic TV soap opera, Islamic chick-lit., etc.
 General characteristics
Lifestyle, rather than social criticism or
socially-relevant films;
Middle-class issues;
Non-political standpoints;
High concern over personal welfare and
social status;
Adherence to Islam as additional tool for
social climbing being a pious Muslim is
cool;
A shift on abroad experience as social
status symbol: from America to Egypt.
 Exceptions
Social criticism:
Perempuan
Berkalung Surban
(A Veiled Woman),
Doa Yang
Mengancam (A
Threatening
Prayer) Hanung
Bramantyo;
Exceptions
Political stance:
Sang Pencerah
(The Enlightened
One), ? (Question
Mark) Hanung
Bramantyo.
 Exceptions
Laskar Pelangi
(Rainbow Troops),
Rindu Purnama,
nave portrayal of
poverty and social
problems Mizan
Production
 Why Islamic Films?
The most-watched films each year 2008-
2011 are Islamic films;
2008: Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Troops)
and Ayat-ayat Cinta (Verses of Love);
2009: Ketika Cinta Bertasbih 1 & 2
(When Love Glorifies God 1 and 2);
2010: Sang Pencerah (The Enlightened
One) and Dalam Mihrab Cinta (In the
Niche of Love)
 Why Islamic Films?

Audience of Ketika Cinta

Bertasbih
 Why Islamic Films?
Political significance
Endorsement from Islamic political leaders
cultural strategy;
Mainstreaming of scriptural Islamic
lifestyles:
More formalistic and less substantive
representation of Islam;
Less tolerant to multiculturalism and diversity;
Endorsement from Islamic Political
Leader
Ketika Cinta Bertasbih
as high-quality and
dignified film;
The audience that
flocked the cinema as
am evidence of public
inclination towards
high-quality and
dignified film;
Let just see the high-
quality and
dignified films