A Copy of My Mind

Joko Anwar's film is set in Jakarta. The relationship between Sari, who works in a beauty salon, and Alek, who writes subtitles for pirated DVDs, begins as both step out of their ordinary lives. Then Sari watches the wrong recording and the situation turns dangerous. The first half is almost entirely a love story: small apartments, late meals, cheap entertainment. Anwar keeps it realistic and warm. In the second half political corruption enters and the same city becomes something else entirely. Anwar is known for horror films but works completely differently here; handheld camera, natural light, plain performance. The film drew attention in Indonesia for political references that coincided with an election period. It screened in the Horizons section at Venice. Who it's for: those who like contemporary Indonesian cinema and love stories with political subtext. Who it's not for: viewers who want a consistent genre; the film changes direction entirely at its midpoint.