Yowis Ben

Fajar Nugros and Bayu Skak's 2018 Indonesian film follows a high school student who wants to impress the girl he likes. Bayu forms a band with three friends, and when it unexpectedly takes off the balance between them breaks. What distinguishes the film is its language. It was shot almost entirely in Javanese, unusual in an Indonesian cinema that produces in the national language. The local dialect is also the basis of the humour. Bayu Skak was already known online before the film and brought his own audience to cinemas; it became an unexpected box office success and sequels followed. The narrative follows the template. Who it's for: those who like Indonesian popular cinema and youth comedy. Who it's not for: viewers expecting an original story; the film follows the familiar band narrative with few surprises.