Opera Jawa

A true curiosity, Opera Jawa is an Indonesian musical built around a modernized retelling of the tale of the abduction of Sita, the wife of Rama, by the demon king found in the Hindu epic The Ramayana, set against a backdrop of economic distress and political oppression. In Garin Nugroho's imaginative updating, Siti, the wife of impoverished potter Setyo, is seduced by lustful butcher (and ruthless village boss) Ludiro while her husband is absent, spurring a vengeful response when Setyo returns. Opera Jawa's story is presented through a combination of Javanese dance-drama and sung narrative (both aria and recitative) that will be challenging to Western viewers, while the social commentary—various characters protest their brutal treatment at the hands of the powerful—is very heavy-handed. But the exoticism of this visually ravishing film carries a certain fascination, particularly when Eko Supriyanto—the swarthy dancer who plays Ludiro—takes center stage during an extraordinary turn atop a table, while the sound of the gamelan orchestra accompanying Rahayu Supanggah's score is often intoxicating. As with Chinese opera, Opera Jawa's foreign idiom will prove daunting to many viewers, although the more adventurous may want to take a chance. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)