Gundala
Joko Anwar, Indonesia, 2019o
EPIC SUPERHERO TALE | In this adaptation of the most popular Indonesian superhero, a young man sets out to fight injustice, as well as a villain at the head of an army of orphan assassins. Buckle up!
SWISS PREMIERE
The film
In an alternate reality, Indonesia is a place of corruption and inequalities. The young Sancaka witnesses the death of his father during a workers’ protest. Filled with rage and sorrow, he harnesses lightning and faints after causing an explosion. A few years later, he wanders the streets of Jakarta and tries to keep to himself. When the ruthless mob boss Pengkor plans to poison the country’s rice supplies with the help of an army of orphans, Sancaka finally decides to live up to his responsibilities and dons the costume of Gundala.
Here’s an origin story that can rival any of the recent western superhero reboots. With his dynamic direction, filmmaker Joko Anwar elevates the already stunning action choreographies of Cecep Arif Rahman (THE RAID 2, JOHN WICK 3). GUNDALA is an excellent adaptation of the comic book character created by Harya Suraminata, and gives birth to the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe, the Indonesian MCU. Hollywood had better watch out!
The director
Joko Anwar studied aerospace engineering, but films have been his passion since childhood. Growing up on horror and kung fu flicks, he became a film critic immediately after finishing his studies. During an interview, he is invited to work on the script for ARISAN! (2003). He then started directing his own films, notably the much talked about DEAD TIME: KALA (2007), THE FORBIDDEN DOOR (2009), and SATAN’S SLAVES (2018) – all shown at the NIFFF –, which earned him the status of prodigal son of Indonesian cinema.
Selected filmography
2005 – JANJI JONI
2007 – DEAD TIME: KALA
2009 – THE FORBIDDEN DOOR
2012 – RITUAL
2015 – A COPY OF MY MIND
2018 – SATAN’S SLAVE
2019 – IMPETIGORE
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