Receiving Prestigious Awards, Widyawati Expresses Disappointment that 'AMBU' Film Received Limited Screen Time

Kapanlagi.com - Widyawati successfully achieved the title of Best Supporting Actress at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. She won the award for her performance as a native woman of the Baduy tribe in the film AMBU.

Widyawati is very grateful for her victory. However, she is also saddened because during the screening period at XXI network in May-June 2019, it was only shown in Jabodetabek and West Java areas.

"I haven't spoken about this before. Because there is an opportunity, so I can talk about this issue. Yes, that is what I regret, I am sad because on Instagram, many people ask 'Why isn't the film shown here, here'. Every producer wants their film to be shown throughout Indonesia, but apparently there is a problem with Sundanese language films. That is heartbreaking," said Widyawati when receiving the winning trophy at the Sinematek Building, Kuningan area, South Jakarta, Thursday (16/1/2020).

1. Compare with Foreign Films

Widyawati then compared Indonesian films in regional languages with foreign films. Language should no longer be a barrier as long as subtitles are provided.

"Maybe you can ask the producer and director, Mr. Farid Dermawan, coincidentally he knows exactly. If I am told some of the reasons are afraid because Sundanese language cannot be accepted. But there is text, right? Western films also use English language, but there is text. And AMBU is not entirely in Sundanese language, also uses Indonesian language," added the 69-year-old actress.

2. Argument with Cinemas

©KapanLagi.com/Budi Santoso

As a director and producer, Farid Dermawan has also struggled for the film AMBU to be distributed in large quantities. However, due to the considerations mentioned above, he can only accept it.

"We have also fought before. In the sense of arguing: 'No, we can't because this is a cultural film, we don't want only people in West Java to know about Baduy culture. I also want Baduy to be known throughout Indonesia'. And finally, after it was released, many other regions said 'We want to watch, we want to watch'," concluded Farid when met at the same place.

During its circulation, XXI revealed that they provided a total of 35 screens. The longest recorded screening of the film AMBU was at Plaza Senayan XXI for 36 days. Meanwhile, in non-XXI cinemas, this family drama, which also starred Laudya Cynthia Bella, reached as far as Palopo and Ambon.

(kpl/abs/TIN)