The Three Maidens

Usmar Ismail's 1956 Indonesian film follows three sisters in Jakarta. After their mother's death their grandmother raises them, while their father is occupied with work. The grandmother wants the eldest married and the household turns into a race. The film gives each sister a distinct temper; the narrative does not present marriage as the only path and keeps the humour on the women's side. The musical numbers are its best-known feature. It is counted among the classics of Indonesian cinema and a print was restored much later. Who it's for: those who like classic Indonesian cinema and musicals. Who it's not for: viewers expecting modern pacing; the film speaks the language of the fifties.