Dear Nathan

Indra Gunawan's 2017 Indonesian film adapts Erisca Febriani's novel, first published online and later in print. The relationship between Nathan, a constant troublemaker at school, and Salma, a new arrival, is tested when his former girlfriend comes back. The template is familiar: the bad boy, the good girl and the promise of change. Its success in Indonesia came from its audience of young readers; the book had already been read millions of times. Jefri Nichol's performance made him a young star. The narrative problem is that aggressive behaviour is presented as romantic appeal and never questioned. The background of domestic violence is left where it is opened. Who it's for: viewers interested in Indonesian youth cinema and adaptations of internet fiction. Who it's not for: anyone troubled by an aggressive male character being romanticised, or looking for a story that leaves the template.