2007-07-05
N/A
94 min
Sita is an escort at a karaoke bar who struggles to raise money to send her daughter out of the city to live with her grandmother and settle her debts with her pimp. She moves in with aging photographer Jan and helps him fulfill his last wishes.
The Photograph presents a culturally rich and emotionally subtle story rooted in Chinese-Indonesian tradition, unfolding at a slow, reflective pace that allows each moment to breathe. Though dialogue is minimal, the film effectively conveys emotion through strong visual composition, fitting sound design, and poignant scenes—like Johan’s eerie encounter with death during a house cleansing. While the late reveal of Yani as the narrator adds a twist, it slightly disrupts the narrative focus, which might have been stronger if centered solely on Sita. Still, the film remains a beautifully crafted and introspective experience.
Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)
