Forum of Independents: Competition section - review - ROCKET RAIN by Anggun Priambodo

Two men in their thirties long to get away from their partners and meet as one is filming is latest video project, where they review their relationships with women up to that point. Yet, there is far more that creatively spins off Anggun Priambodo’s Rocket Rain, presented at the 49th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

 

Priambodo, an Indonesian artist turned filmmaker, and screenwriter Tumpal Tampubolon put in a lot of autobiographical elements and even act as surrogate versions of themselves in the film. Rocket Rain is not built around any form of deductive narrative – Priambodo and Tampubolon seem much more interested in representing their doubts about love and relationships in straight forward, lengthy and honest conversation scenes.

 

These, they oppose with more fantastical representations, prominently brought into the film’s structure by the mysterious titular character of Rain, a playful and cheerful women who is not far from being a fairy figure in this most unlikely of fairy tales.

 

This contrast between the realism and the metaphor could not be more drastic. Scenes such as Rain riding a rocket contrast greatly with the still shot conversations between the two leading men, which mostly take place unceremoniously on a bed or on some anonymous balcony.

 

Extremely prominent, however, is the environmental beauty of the background, which provides the solid meditative setting for some honest and purifying musings on why on earth humans feel the need to bond instead of quite simply reproducing methodically.

 

This film of many surprises, drastic contrasts and questionable yet honest wisdom should interest many but also alienate a wider audience due to its unusual and intentional inconsistent pace. Yet, there is no doubt that Rocket Rain represents the type of hidden gem that resembles a type of grown up Teletubbies experience. This comment may seem drastic, but is meant in the best of ways – and after all, isn’t it enough to make you want to watch it?