Movie Talk 'A PERFECT FIT': A Cinderella-like Love Story with a Balinese Cultural Twist

Kapanlagi.com - When talking about Cinderella, one thing that comes to mind is glass slippers. The legendary and worldwide story, which has been made into animated and live-action versions, has become so iconic. The iconic story of Cinderella has inspired filmmakers from all over the world, including Garin Nugroho, a renowned director, producer, and screenwriter in the Indonesian film industry.

Thanks to Cinderella, Garin found inspiration to write a unique romance story titled A PERFECT FIT. After completing his script, he collaborated with a famous director, Hadrah Daeng Ratu, to turn the story into a film. The story presented by Garin captivated Hadrah Daeng Ratu. Without hesitation, he accepted the offer.

Garin's idea also impressed Chand Parwez, the owner of Starvision Plus production house. In short, a collaboration between these three film maestros was formed to produce the film A PERFECT FIT. What's special is that this romantic comedy genre film will also be shown on the Netflix platform! From here alone, it can be known that this film's quality is beyond doubt.

So what kind of film is A PERFECT FIT? What's the connection with Cinderella? And who are the actors involved in it? Here's the review from KapanLagi.com before you watch the film..

1. From Feet to Heart

Photo Credit: Netflix

As explained above, A PERFECT FIT is inspired by the Cinderella fairy tale. But don't get it wrong, this film is not an adaptation of Cinderella, but rather, Garin uses shoes as an analogy of fairy tales presented in the love story of the film A PERFECT FIT.

"A PERFECT FIT is a love story related to fairy tales, something we often imagine but always hope to become real," said Garin in a virtual press conference with the media on Thursday (15/7).

Hadrah, who was appointed as the director, further explained, "Choosing shoes is similar to choosing a partner. If we feel comfortable with the shoes and their tread, then our steps and life will also be comfortable. The love story is different because usually it goes from the eyes to the heart, but in A PERFECT FIT, it goes from the feet to the heart. In love, nothing is impossible."

2. Introducing the Unrevealed Side of Bali

Photo Credit: Netflix

Most of the filming process of A PERFECT FIT was done in Bali. Not without reason, Bali is referred to as a setting that has magical power and is associated with fairy tales and fantasies. In addition, Bali also has a rich cultural heritage, some of which are still rarely explored in popular culture, such as Lontar reading, mud wrestling tradition, or Mepantingan.

"Bali is a combination of tradition, modernity, and even global influence with its own lifestyle, which creates many events in A PERFECT FIT. Hopefully, our film can be a companion for the people of Indonesia at this time," said Garin, who also plays the role of Production Designer in this project.

The entire filming process was carried out during the pandemic, but of course, with strict adherence to health protocols. Some of the filming locations include Tenganan village, which is the oldest village and part of Bali Aga (ancient Bali), Batubulan village, Jatiluwih, Gootama Street in Ubud, Canggu Beach, and Melasti Beach.

3. A Combination of Cross-Generational Actors

Photo Credit: Netflix

There is something unique about the lineup of actors in A PERFECT FIT. The main cast consists of talented young actors such as Nadya Arina (Saski), Refal Hady (Rio), Giorgino Abraham (Deni), Anggika Bolstelri (Tiara), and Laura Theux (Andra). Meanwhile, senior actors are also present as supporting characters who play an important role in the film, such as Christine Hakim (Mother Hadrah) and Mathias Muchus (Deni's Father).

Nadya explained a little about her character, "Saski is a girl who was born with a strong Balinese culture, but her passion for the fashion industry requires her to have an open mind. Her character is very relatable to many Indonesian women in their 20s."

Next is Refal's turn, "Rio is a hardworking individual who never gives up and never wants to miss an opportunity. Therefore, he fights with all his might to follow his instincts. He also has a fairly adventurous spirit."

Giorgino added, "As Saski's boyfriend, Deni comes from a well-off family and sees Saski as a partner who must obey his words. He has a spoiled character but is also searching for his identity because he doesn't know what he wants."

4. Highlighting Woman Empowerment

Credit Photo: Netflix

The main character in the film A PERFECT FIT is named Saski, an intelligent fashion blogger who values tradition and carries a great family responsibility. Initially, Saski only wants the best for her family, even if it means constantly putting aside her own desires.

However, a meeting with a shoemaker named Rio encourages Saski to see the world from a different perspective and focus more on what makes her happy. This story is highly relatable to real life, where many women are afraid to express their desires due to following family wishes or traditions. Simply put, they prefer to make others happy rather than themselves.

"There are strong cultural values that we must uphold as Indonesians. We are also taught to obey our parents' wishes, including in terms of marriage. These two things, cultural values and parental desires, sometimes clash with what our hearts truly desire. This puts women, in particular, in a confusing situation. Nevertheless, we still have to try to determine our own destiny, just like what Saski does in this film," said Nadya about Saski's character.

5. Promote Indonesian Culture to the World

Photo Credit: Netflix

Being shown on Netflix means that A PERFECT FIT will be available in 190 different countries. Therefore, all the crew and actors involved do not want to miss this opportunity to convey some important messages to both local and global audiences through the story presented in the film A PERFECT FIT.

"I hope many people become 'enlightened' about our culture. Indonesia has many cultures that are inseparable from our daily lives. There are many interesting things highlighted in this film," Hadrah hopes.

Meanwhile, Garin is confident that many viewers will be surprised by the Bali traditions that will be presented in this film. "There are many things that may astonish global viewers, such as the marriage requirements in Makassar and Bali traditions that are quite complex. However, I hope that it will become something interesting in A PERFECT FIT."

6. How To Watch 'A PERFECT FIT'

A PERFECT FIT premiered on the Netflix platform today, Thursday (15/7). But before that, you have to watch the trailer first, which is also unique and guaranteed to make you more curious!

Video by: Netflix Indonesia

(kpl/gtr)