The Film 'CITY WAR' Coming Soon, Jerome Kurnia Offered Before This Film Has a Title

Kapanlagi.com - After its premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam last February, the war-drama film directed by Mouly Surya titled internationally THIS CITY IS A BATTLEFIELD will soon be available for Indonesian audiences starting April 30, 2025, in theaters across Indonesia.

The film CITY WAR is a loose adaptation of the novel by Mochtar Lubis, Jalan Tak Ada Ujung, set in Jakarta in 1946 during the time the Allies came to Indonesia, accompanied by the Dutch who wanted to regain power. Amidst this crisis, love and infidelity emerge. Let's take a look at more unique facts behind the film City War below...

1. Origin of the Title Idea for CITY WAR

In a press conference, Mouly Surya explained how he came up with the title for this film as CITY WAR. Behind this film's title, he got the idea from a conversation with a historian who had lived on Jalan Jaksa.

"One fun fact, I chatted with a historian who also lived on Jalan Jaksa. We talked about Mochtar Lubis's book, and at that time I took the title city war from him because at that time Jakarta was in a state of urban warfare," said Mouly Surya in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta, on Monday (03/24).

2. Challenges in Filmmaking

KapanLagi/Jesselin Rahardja

Creating a film set in Jakarta in 1946 during a time of war certainly presents various challenges. One of them is the challenge of research. Mouly Surya explained that in this film, he conducted extensive research.

"The research was quite extensive, in the sense that we were in a pandemic during the preparation and writing as well. However, we had valuable sources, namely the book where the soldiers are discussed to make sense of it. We also looked in libraries, dug into archives, and most importantly, I researched how to explore my perspective about that era because I wanted to tell my perspective about that time. We also talked a lot with historians," said Mouly Surya.

3. Chicco Jerikho's Challenge in Portraying Isa

KapanLagi/Jesselin Rahardja

In the press conference, Chicco Jerikho shared his challenges in portraying Isa because it is the opposite of himself. Isa is an introvert who is always at war in his own mind.

"To bring to life the character of Isa, who is a complex character. He is an introvert, constantly battling in his mind. He always thinks about how to survive, how to support his family, and how he fights for independence from colonial hands. Additionally, the use of proper Indonesian language during that era, and what’s more, I had never touched a violin, fortunately, at Cinesurya there was facilitation, there was coaching for the violin," said Chicco Jerikho.

4. Jerome Kurnia Invited to the Film Before It Has a Title

KapanLagi/Jesselin Rahardja

One interesting fact in this film is that Jerome Kurnia was invited to participate in the film project CITY WAR even before there was a title and script. In the press conference, Mouly Surya explained that this happened because he saw Hazil in a Jerome Kurnia in Hanung Bramantyo's film.

"So at that time I went to the cinema to watch Hanung Bramantyo's film, and if I'm not mistaken, it was Jerome's first film. I watched and in the opening there was a character who spoke Dutch fluently. I was curious and immediately searched on Google and social media. I also saw Hazil in Jerome Kurnia because I had just read Mochtar Lubis's book," said Mouly Surya.

5. Synopsis and Screening Schedule

KapanLagi/Jesselin Rahardja

CITY WAR tells the story of a teacher named Isa, a war hero who is troubled in his marriage, entrusted with the mission to eliminate Dutch colonial leaders in the effort to defend independence, alongside his friend Hazil, a handsome and highly spirited young man, who secretly steals the heart of Fatimah, Isa's wife.

This war drama film will premiere starting April 30, 2025, in theaters across Indonesia.

(kpl/jes)