ruma maida

Maida Lilian Manurung (Atiqah Hasiholan), a quirky, tomboyish and idealistic senior college student, turns an abandoned house into a school for street kids, teaching them everything from Indonesian history to how to play musical instruments.

One day, a group of leather-jacket-wearing thugs storm the house, forcing Maida and the kids to vacate the premises. A young architect, Sakera (Yama Carlos), hired by a real estate mogul, Dasaad Muchlisin (Frans Tumbuan), explains that the house has been bought and will be turned into a modern, commercial building.

Sakera thinks the house’s architecture should be preserved, but the idea is vehemently opposed by Muchlisin. Sakera gradually develops sympathy for Maida’s cause and romantic interest follows.

A sister and guardian angel to the street kids, Maida, who is also working on her senior history thesis on the fictional historical song “Pulau Tenggara” (“Southeast Island”), is desperate to prevent the house from being demolished.

Through flashbacks the movie also tells the story of Ishak Pahing (Nino Fernandez), the author of “Pulau Tenggara,” whose half-Dutch half-Indonesian status meant he was living in a perilous time.

Through the songwriter-turned-pilot’s character, the audience is taken into different chapters of Indonesian history, covering the 1928 Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge), the Dutch colonial era and the Japanese occupation. While the connection between Maida’s and Ishak’s stories is not immediately obvious, it turns out the young idealist’s only chance to save the house lies in its history. - image source: http://www.rumamaida.com/ - movie review from http://thejakartaglobe.com/artsandentertainment/ruma-maida-a-potent-tangle/337944

November 5th, 2009. We unexpectedly watched 'Ruma Maida' together. We were me, Mbak Wanda and Galih. Why it was unexpected? Because we didn't plan anything. It came out of sudden; as when we planned something, it mostly didn't work. I go out pretty often with Mbak Wanda, but not with Galih.

Let me tell you about Galih. He is a friend of mine, of course. He was a Graduate Program student, who is now a Master in Architecture History and Theory. The very first time I knew him was in Ethno Architecture class couple years ago and until last year, I barely knew him. Last semester, we were the facilitators for the same subject. Since then, we discuss a lot, mainly about life. We're from very different background and education but surprisingly, we share some similarities in these quarter life crisis *haha*. If you see any of my previous posts that contained my complains *haha again* or thought about life, and Galih depressingly commented on those posts, then you might understand what I was saying. Vice versa. His blog which is now idle [hehe peace dulu ah, Gal] shares his interest in culture and everything else, including life. And I used to depressingly make comments on his posts.

So this was the first time I saw a movie with Galih. [Un]fortunately, the movie was 'Ruma Maida', which.......... kicked *nyengir ketimpuk*. Okay. Well basically, the movie is about nationalism and the youngs' idealism. In more detail, the movie contents architecture, history [of architecture], passion, and life discussions. In a very more detail, the movie contents stories about 'the last semester student from a notable university -alias UI which was our school- who is finishing her final undergraduate thesis', 'a young, idealist architect who is trapped within the wants of his client', 'discussions about idealism, professional ethics [this one especially goes to Mbak Wanda who currently is taking Professional Ethics class for her graduate study] and history of architecture', 'a little glimpse on religion' and also 'the past time pilot whose actual passion was being a musician and however he continued to become a songwriter' That's why it........... kicks *nyengir ketimpuk lagi*

This is a very actual prove, of what I've said before, that the universe is working in a very unique way in my life. Including sneaking up on me. And maybe you. I really don't understand why, did I see this movie with those two recent best pals. I think it was simply because The Greater Power Than Human needs to........ kick *sorry I can't find any other word* us in the middle of our so called life questioning. Or life learning. There were a lot of 'oh damn' from us when seeing this movie.

Really. You should see the movie yourself. However I don't know if it will kick you the way it did to me or not.

Ok back to the movie. I think it's a good one. At least it's out of today's mainstream which is sundel bolong or susuk pocong. But... despite its good intention in lifting up nationalism, I found some minor carelessness due to its setting details that unfortunatelly, have a distinct potential to be bloopers. So the setting was 1998. But we'll find 3 [a relatively new cellular provider] advertising board, Kijang Inova, and Pondok Indah - Bandung freeway direction board. Now that's careless.