The Gathering

Nia Dinata's 2003 Indonesian film follows a group of affluent friends who meet regularly. At the gatherings everything appears fine; the narrative opens separately what three of them are actually living through. One is on the edge of divorce, one is under pressure to have a child, one is concealing that he is gay. The film treats all three with equal weight and shows the price of keeping up appearances. It was talked about in Indonesia for showing a gay relationship openly in a mainstream production. The tone sits between comedy and drama, and urban upper-middle-class life is recorded in detail. Who it's for: those who like Indonesian cinema and ensemble drama. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a close in which the matters are resolved; the film leaves them all open.