'SAMAWA', An Inspiring Film About Family and the Complexities of Domestic Violence

Kapanlagi.com - Travel Stories Pictures (TSF) is back with its latest work titled 'SAMAWA', a film that addresses the theme of Domestic Violence (KDRT). Bringing up a sensitive yet relevant social issue, TSF is committed to conveying a deep message through a story that evokes the audience's emotions.

"Many social issues are actually happening around us, but they are not widely discussed because they are considered taboo or controversial," said Ganank Dera, the writer and director of the film 'SAMAWA'.

"We want to open a space for dialogue for the community to view this phenomenon from various angles, without making absolute judgments," he continued when met at XXI Epicentrum, Kuningan, South Jakarta, Friday (21/2/2025).

1. Complexity of the Relationship Between Perpetrator and Victim

Ganank also emphasized that 'SAMAWA' not only highlights domestic violence but also tries to unravel the complexity of the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. "This film is not a justification for domestic violence, but an effort to illustrate that this phenomenon exists and is more complicated than it appears on the surface. We leave the judgment to the audience," he added.

The story of Samawa focuses on the journey of Yura (played by Badriyah Afiff), a Javanese woman who marries Andi (played by Alexzander Wlan). Their initially harmonious household gradually turns into one filled with conflict due to Andi's hidden sins. This religious drama genre film explores Yura's struggle to find the meaning of Sakinah, Mawaddah, Warahmah (SaMaWa) in her family.

2. Inspired by the Reality of Marriage

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Ganank revealed that the story of this film is inspired by the reality of marriage. "We often hear the SaMaWa prayer in every marriage, but maintaining it is not easy. Conflicts such as domestic violence, infidelity, and divorce become significant challenges. This film is a reflection of the struggles of many young couples who are vulnerable to such issues," he said.

Alexzander Wlan, who plays Andi, admitted to learning a lot from the process of delving into his character as a perpetrator of domestic violence. "I had to do extensive research to understand the psychological and religious aspects of a domestic violence perpetrator. It turns out there are many tendencies that trigger such actions," he revealed. According to Alexzander, the shooting process was quite emotional, especially during intense conflict scenes.

3. Behind the Scenes of the Shooting Process

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Meanwhile, Badriyah Afiff, who plays Yura, revealed that one of the main challenges during shooting was the domestic violence scenes. "When we shot that scene, I actually got hit for real. I bruise easily when I get hit, but it's okay because everything was directed well," she said. She also mentioned that a viral domestic violence case while they were shooting became one of the inspirations for her to delve into her role.

Ganank gave the actors the freedom to explore their emotions during the shooting process. "We strive to keep everything according to the script, but I also give space for improvisation so that their acting feels more natural. The results were truly beyond my expectations," he said. According to Alexzander, this approach allowed them as actors to express their characters more freely.

4. Entertainment as a Media for Reflection

The film Samawa not only provides entertainment but also serves as a media for reflection on the importance of fighting for family harmony. "Many people are afraid to marry due to relationship trauma. Through this film, we want to show that fighting for a relationship is indeed difficult, but very meaningful," concluded Ganank.

With the tagline "Your Sin, My Love, Forever," Samawa is ready to touch the hearts of the audience through an emotional and relevant story. Don't miss its screening in theaters starting February 27, 2025.

(kpl/aal/rsp)