Gema Kampus 66

(title translation: The Echo in Campus 1966)

Concerning the unique story of the activists and leaders of the 1966 student movement, who meet again after the situation has returned to “normal”. Rima, Danu, and Bima try to stay loyal to the ideals of the movement while Bustaman, the most respected figure during the movement, changes overnight and takes the opportunity to become rich, by betraying his girlfriend, Arini, to marry the daughter of a rich family. Unfortunately, the important and urgent theme is only presented in words without detailing the real drama. Hence, the film becomes a lecture filled with slogans. The problem may lie in the long time span of the story with too many details for the film to show. For example, the “reenactment” the 1966 demonstration in Bandung, takes up almost half of the film’s time. Only in the other half do we see the lives of the activists five years after the demonstration. There is an unrequited love story between Danu and Rima. Danu conceals his love as he has a heart defect that, at the climax of the story (while fighting over a contract with the Germans and Bustaman), claims his life.