INDONESIAN WOMEN FILMMAKERS

Abstract

This article investigates the representation of women's issues in Indonesian film. Indonesian cinema has a long tradition, which also includes the impact of women directors. In this article I argue that these women filmmakers create a different female identity than do their male colleagues, which can be analysed from the perspective of feminisms. Nevertheless I question whether feminism is a homogenous concept and argue instead that its national specificities should be recognised. After a brief historical overview of Indonesian women filmmakers this article discusses the concepts of ‘feminism’ and of ‘women's film’ in Indonesia in general and also among the filmmakers themselves. It asks if these definitions can be interpreted as being culturally specific and explores whether the ideas and influences to which these female filmmakers are being exposed can be seen as an expression of feminism. It shows how women deal with socio-culturally significant topics and how they create a distinct female identity by introducing various female characters into their films. It then analyses in detail two films from two female filmmakers, Nan Achnas' The photographer (2007) and Kamila Andini's Laut bercermin (The mirror never lies, 2011), to show how they deal with the identity of female characters. The analysis concludes by discussing the extent and manner to which the female characters in the films express traditional or new Indonesian values of cultural roles for women.