Melintas Badai

(title translation: Passing Storm)

Keenly concerned with social issues, actor-director Sophan Sophiaan shows the issue of opposing tradition and filial piety. Another highlight of this film is the mise-en-scene, as the plot (written by another actor-director Slamet Rahardjo Djarot) is not linear, but there are flashbacks and jump cuts. The film begins with the elopement of Martin and Emmy. They leave Bukit Tinggi for Jakarta. Then the story jumps to Martin being interrogated by the police, for beating up a driver who ran over a child. Emmy has to work as a laundress while Martin is unemployed. Martin, who is half-Javanese and half Menadonese, grew up in Sumatra, and is very sensitive towards injustice. He helps the boy hit by the taxi by donating his blood to him. He refuses money from the boy’s lawyer father, Max Waworuntu. Then his own child has a similar accident but he is not able to donate his blood so his child dies. He lets loose his anger to the taxi driver who runs over the kid, as before. The story moves forward from here. He is jailed and befriends Sarip, a Mentawaian, who often speaks about putting an end to poverty, as it is the source of social problems. Sarip has a similar background with Martin. His wife and child were also hit by a taxi and killed. He was enraged and thrashed the taxi and minibus. But that was not the main reason of his arrest. This is revealed at the end of the film. While in jail, Martin’s in-laws visit and force him to sign the divorce papers. As a result, Emmy suffers prolonged mental illness until her parents realise their mistake. Martin is released after Sarip’s testimony plus the efforts of Max Waworuntu. Sarip is taken to Nusa Kambangan prison. He tries to escape, is shot and dies in the lap of Martin who is just released. Emmy and Martin have a happy ending.