"Lovely Man" (2011)

tw//cw blood, sex & nudity, violence, alcohol, drugs, frightening and intense scenes

“Lovely Man” (2011) is an Indonesian film directed by Teddy Soeriaatmadja and starring Donny Damara and Raihaanun. This 18+-rated movie on Netflix tells the story of not only a father-daughter relationship but also the harsh realities of life, identity exploration, acceptance, and a one-night journey to find the meaning of love in an unexpected form.

Before getting into the review, let's spill a little bit about the short synopsis of this movie.

~movie synopsis~

The movie follows the story of Cahaya (Raihaanun) a 19-year-old Muslim girl who travels to Jakarta alone in search of her long-lost father. When she finally meets him, she discovers a reality she never imagined - her father, Saiful (Donny Damara), turns out to be a “waria” who works as a sex worker at night called Ipuy. This meeting becomes an emotional confrontation for both of them. Cahaya, who is innocent and devoutly religious, must face the bitter reality of a father figure who does not match her expectations. Meanwhile, Saiful, who has lived in a tough world for a long time, relives the role of a father that he left behind years ago.

~going into the review by me~

I feel that this movie is very brave because it raises the theme of LGBTQ+ in Indonesian cinema which is still rarely explored. Even so, this film does not judge one group of people against another but rather shows the diversity and complexity of humans in all their aspects. Next, the acting of the cast is extraordinary. In my opinion, Donny Damara successfully played a transsexual who still has a fatherly nature and the chemistry between Saiful and Cahaya was also very touching. The change of emotions from distrust, and anger, to finally acceptance felt real. Furthermore, what I like in this movie is the excellent cinematography that shows the nightlife in Jakarta. AND how this movie could tell all those scenes in just one night's time. It was impressive!!

Last but not least, cahaya also has a secret🤫

Overall rate from me is 9/10!!! Highly recommendation guys!