The Periodic Film 'CITY WAR' Presents a Love Story Full of Struggle and Betrayal in the Early Independence Era

Kapanlagi.com - A lineup of renowned actors including Chicco Jerikho, Ariel Tatum, Jerome Kurnia, Ar Barrani Lintang, Rukman Rosaldi, Imelda Therrine, and others have been engaged to take on roles in the film CITY WAR. This film is a collaborative production between Cinesurya, Starvision, and Kaninga Pictures, which adapts the novel The Endless Road by the legendary Indonesian writer, Mochtar Lubis. The story about the stakes of love and the struggles of the characters will be portrayed with elements of betrayal woven throughout.

The film CITY WAR will be widely available in theaters across Indonesia starting April 30, 2025. Before its full release on the big screen in the homeland, the film directed by Mouly Surya is reported to have been commercially screened first on April 17, 2025, in Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg).

1. Offering Cinematographic Aesthetics with a 4:3 Ratio

The film CITY WAR will be released starting April 30, 2025, in theaters. (credit: KapanLagi.com/Ratri)

Unlike most films, CITY WAR offers visuals using a 4:3 aspect ratio. This aims to enhance the classical impression as part of the aesthetics while also showcasing the narrative of intimacy presented through the film's characters. The cinematography also depicts inner conflict and warfare, making it a film that provides a 'fresh breeze' regarding interpretation.

"With full awareness really, we take (the understanding) that the camera is the point of view of a third party that always follows or peeks at the events in this film, as if (depicting) us like squinting our eyes. So, when squinting, the format is indeed like this." Said Roy Lolang, the cinematographer who received four nominations for "Best Cinematography" at the FFI awards.

2. The Ups and Downs of Story Development

The CITY WAR film will premiere starting April 30, 2025, in theaters. (credit: KapanLagi.com/Ratri)

Love, struggle, and betrayal are the main themes that the screenwriter and director of the post-independence Indonesian film CITY WAR, Mouly Surya, wants to convey. He admitted that the process of developing the storyline of this film has taken quite a long time to develop these three themes through the characters Isa, Fathimah, and Hazil in their own ways.

"From the beginning, I wanted to create a film that has a genre that is 'fun', like films from the 40s back then you know. There is (a part) of the drama, actually it is (the genre) drama, but in a war setting where there is representation (of the three main themes) as well. So I really want to show that (through the film CITY WAR)." Mouly Surya stated.

3. The Complexity of Each Character

The movie CITY WAR will be released starting April 30, 2025, in theaters. (credit: KapanLagi.com/Ratri)

The characters Isa, Fatimah, and Hazil that appear in the film each have their own complexity. According to Ariel Tatum, the figure of Fatimah that Mouly Surya aims to visualize through her script is able to present a connection between women in the post-independence era and women today through resilience and fighting spirit. Although living in different times, both Fatimah and modern women continue to face their own struggles and wars every day.

Meanwhile, the complexity felt by Chicco Jerikho in his role as Isa includes trauma, health issues, and a fighting spirit that he possesses to defend the freedom of his homeland from the hands of the colonizers. The inner turmoil between his role as the head of the family, a freedom fighter, and an Indonesian citizen who wants to survive makes his character quite complex.

On the other hand, Jerome Kurnia admitted that it took him up to seven years to understand and delve into the character of Hazil. "From Hazil, he loves Indonesia very much, (but) comes from a family whose parents or relatives are pro (with) the Dutch. He is rebellious (and) actually wants Indonesia to live and be free, his love is directed towards that. But, along the way we don't know what happens left (and) right: Sometimes he has to betray, sometimes (also) he has to love something else to achieve his goals."

4. Character Deepening Process as a Small Family

The movie CITY WAR will be released starting April 30, 2025, in theaters. (credit: KapanLagi.com/Ratri)

Chicco Jerikho, Ariel Tatum, and Ar Barrani Lintang have the opportunity to portray characters together as a small family in the film CITY WAR. The child actor, affectionately called Arban, admitted that one of the exciting experiences he had during the process of embodying his character was when he played marbles with his parents in the film.

Not only was it his first experience, but playing the traditional game also turned out to be something new for Ariel Tatum. This was known to be an idea proposed by Chicco Jerikho, who plays the head of the family, to create a close and familiar atmosphere between a father and his wife and child before the shooting process began.

5. Synopsis of the Film CITY WAR

The CITY WAR film will be released starting April 30, 2025, in theaters. (credit: Cinesurya, Starvision, & Kaninga Pictures)

Isa (Chicco Jerikho) is a teacher in the post-independence era who joins an important organization carrying a significant mission on his shoulders: to eliminate the Dutch colonial elites who still perpetuate their influence in Indonesia. During his mission, he often has to leave Fatimah (Ariel Tatum) with their child, Salim (Ar Barrani Lintang), to protect them from danger.

However, over time, his wife becomes increasingly upset with him. Fatimah deeply longs for the intimate love and affection from Isa, even though her husband has been diagnosed with impotence. This unease in Fatimah gradually leads her to develop feelings for Hazil (Jerome Kurnia), a fellow fighter and her husband’s violin student, who has secretly fallen in love with her.

The twists and turns of the love story between Isa, Fatimah, and Hazil will be colored by the joys and sorrows of struggle and betrayal presented in the film CITY WAR. It tells how Isa carries out his actions with Hazil to push back the colonizers still treading on their homeland, about the husband-wife relationship between Isa and Fatimah that faces various life challenges, and about the illicit relationship between Hazil and Fatimah that is also included in the story.

(kpl/rtr)