Indonesia has selected Makbul Mubarak’s award-winning drama Autobiography as its submission in the Best International Feature category of the Oscars.
Selected from a pool of 100 films, Autobiography was handpicked by a nine-person committee, established by the Indonesian Film Companies Union.
Set in a rural Indonesian town, the film tells the story of a young man who works as a housekeeper in an empty mansion belonging to a retired general. When the general returns to the town to start his mayoral campaign, an act of vandalism triggers an escalating chain of violence. Kevin Ardilova and award-winning veteran actor Arswendy Bening Swara head the cast.
The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2022, where it won the Fipresci award, then went on to screen at more than 50 international festivals. It also won awards including the Grand Prize at Tokyo Filmex, Best Screenplay at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards,...
Selected from a pool of 100 films, Autobiography was handpicked by a nine-person committee, established by the Indonesian Film Companies Union.
Set in a rural Indonesian town, the film tells the story of a young man who works as a housekeeper in an empty mansion belonging to a retired general. When the general returns to the town to start his mayoral campaign, an act of vandalism triggers an escalating chain of violence. Kevin Ardilova and award-winning veteran actor Arswendy Bening Swara head the cast.
The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2022, where it won the Fipresci award, then went on to screen at more than 50 international festivals. It also won awards including the Grand Prize at Tokyo Filmex, Best Screenplay at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards,...
- 9/13/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service has acquired Makbul Mubarak’s award-winning debut feature, “Autobiography,” for the Southeast Asian region.
The film, which is being sold by Alpha Violet, follows young Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), whose father is in prison and whose brother works abroad. He works as the housekeeper in a mansion in a rural Indonesian town belonging to retired general Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara). Purna returns to the town to start his mayoral election campaign and Rakib, whose clan has worked for the general’s family for centuries, serves as his assistant. An act of vandalism during the campaign triggers an escalating chain of violence.
The film debuted in the Venice Film Festival’s Horizon’s strand in 2022, where it won the Fipresci prize and has been on an award-winning spree since, winning at Tokyo, Adelaide, Singapore, Marrakech, Taipei Golden Horse, Stockholm, Bangkok, Hainan and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
The film, which is being sold by Alpha Violet, follows young Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), whose father is in prison and whose brother works abroad. He works as the housekeeper in a mansion in a rural Indonesian town belonging to retired general Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara). Purna returns to the town to start his mayoral election campaign and Rakib, whose clan has worked for the general’s family for centuries, serves as his assistant. An act of vandalism during the campaign triggers an escalating chain of violence.
The film debuted in the Venice Film Festival’s Horizon’s strand in 2022, where it won the Fipresci prize and has been on an award-winning spree since, winning at Tokyo, Adelaide, Singapore, Marrakech, Taipei Golden Horse, Stockholm, Bangkok, Hainan and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
- 3/13/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Makbul Mubarak is a former film critic turned filmmaker, who has shot several acclaimed shorts before “Autobiography”, his feature debut which is premiering today in the Orrizonti section of Venice. Mubarak grew up in Indonesia during the latter days of the dictatorship, which lasted from 1966-1998, and describes the film as an“emotional investigation” into his childhood.
“Autobiography” is screening at Across Asia Film Festival
Rakib, a young man, is living on his own, as his father is in prison and his brother abroad for work. Eventually, Purna, a retired general whose family Rakib’s clan have served for centuries in a rural Indonesian town, comes to him and essentially forces him to be his assistant, living with him in his mansion, driving him around as he is campaigning for the next election, and doing whatever deed the older man assigns. An initially reluctant Rakim finds himself more and more attached to Purna,...
“Autobiography” is screening at Across Asia Film Festival
Rakib, a young man, is living on his own, as his father is in prison and his brother abroad for work. Eventually, Purna, a retired general whose family Rakib’s clan have served for centuries in a rural Indonesian town, comes to him and essentially forces him to be his assistant, living with him in his mansion, driving him around as he is campaigning for the next election, and doing whatever deed the older man assigns. An initially reluctant Rakim finds himself more and more attached to Purna,...
- 12/7/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
More Talent Joins ‘Agency’
Indonesia’s Miles Films and Sk Global Entertainment have revealed more of the talent participating in their “The Talent Agency” (aka “Harbungi Agen Guei”) the local version of the hit French series, “Call My Agent!.” Other recurring roles go to Sheryl Sheinafia, Chicco Kurniawan, Dea Panendra, and Agni Pratistha. Guest stars in the series—who play a version of themselves—include Luna Maya, Tara Basro, Zara Adhisty, Adipati Dolken, comedians Pandji Pragiwaksono and Soleh Solihun, and young stars Kevin Ardilova and Bio One. The show is now in post-production and will air on Disney+ from next year. Miles Films’ Mira Lesmana and Riri Riza are showrunners with Teddy Soeriaatmadja directing. The show was teased last week at Disney’s content showcase in Singapore.
New Nhk President
Japan’s public broadcaster Nhk has named Inaba Nobuo, former executive director of the Bank of Japan, as its next president.
Indonesia’s Miles Films and Sk Global Entertainment have revealed more of the talent participating in their “The Talent Agency” (aka “Harbungi Agen Guei”) the local version of the hit French series, “Call My Agent!.” Other recurring roles go to Sheryl Sheinafia, Chicco Kurniawan, Dea Panendra, and Agni Pratistha. Guest stars in the series—who play a version of themselves—include Luna Maya, Tara Basro, Zara Adhisty, Adipati Dolken, comedians Pandji Pragiwaksono and Soleh Solihun, and young stars Kevin Ardilova and Bio One. The show is now in post-production and will air on Disney+ from next year. Miles Films’ Mira Lesmana and Riri Riza are showrunners with Teddy Soeriaatmadja directing. The show was teased last week at Disney’s content showcase in Singapore.
New Nhk President
Japan’s public broadcaster Nhk has named Inaba Nobuo, former executive director of the Bank of Japan, as its next president.
- 12/6/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
In a gated compound camouflaged by the thick, dripping vegetation of inland Indonesia, all is quiet. A curtain may stir. The hushed commentary on a TV chess match may mutter indistinctly. An insect or two may chirrup. But mostly, this dark-cornered, sinister place, which is being minded by callow young caretaker Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), feels eerily still and expectant, like a spiderweb waiting for the return of its spider. Makbul Mubarak’s “Autobiography” — the Indonesian filmmaker’s impressive debut — gives a “Godfather”-style, power-corrupting-the-naive story the Conradian overtones of “Apocalypse Now.” But with its powerful sense of mood, it emerges from Coppola’s shadow by summoning evocative, specific shadows of its own, out of Indonesia’s troubled, genocidal, terrifying past.
The spider returns. General Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara), recently a towering figure in the military dictatorship, has retired and is coming home to run for Mayor of the region. Rakib,...
The spider returns. General Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara), recently a towering figure in the military dictatorship, has retired and is coming home to run for Mayor of the region. Rakib,...
- 9/30/2022
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
General Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara) never had a son, so returning to his mansion to ready for a reelection campaign makes him grow sentimental at the sight of young Rakib (Kevin Ardilova). The boy is the youngest son of Amir (Rukman Rosadi)—a man Purna calls a “friend” despite their relationship truly being one of employer and employee. It’s been that way for three generations with Amir’s father serving Purna’s father, grandfather for grandfather. So, no matter how progressive the nation believes itself to have become, the townsfolk still fear what Purna represents. And if that authority allows Rakib a comfy existence as his servant/chauffeur, why not make the best of it?
Writer/director Makbul Mubarak titles his portrayal of these two men Autobiography not because their story mimics his own, but because he’s wielding the film as a metaphor for the autobiography of his homeland.
Writer/director Makbul Mubarak titles his portrayal of these two men Autobiography not because their story mimics his own, but because he’s wielding the film as a metaphor for the autobiography of his homeland.
- 9/18/2022
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
“It’s a big time for us,” said Indonesian filmmaker Makbul Mubarak, whose debut feature has just premiered in the Orizzonti section of the 79th La Biennale di Venezia and is currently being showcased in Toronto. After Edwin, Kamila Andini, and Mouly Sourya, Mubarak is another Indonesian filmmaker whose presence at the international festival was well-noted and his “Autobiography” was granted a Fipresci award. Mubarak, formerly an established film critic and a director of two short films, prepared his “Autobiography” through a formula that many seem to follow these days. With the opening credits of the film, what lights up is a number of co-production projects and script labs – including the one in Torino – friendly reminding of the international nature of the project.
Indeed, the co-production opportunities seem to be on the rise for Indonesia – after the international successes of the aforementioned filmmakers, there is definitely a possibility window for...
Indeed, the co-production opportunities seem to be on the rise for Indonesia – after the international successes of the aforementioned filmmakers, there is definitely a possibility window for...
- 9/15/2022
- by Lukasz Mankowski
- AsianMoviePulse
Forget the overly poetic title, Makbul Mubarak’s terrific Indonesian thriller Autobiography — which premieres in the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons section — is a genuine discovery here, a taut and elegantly staged two-hander that transcends regional politics to make a profound comment on the state of the world today.
American arthouse audiences should be especially receptive to its riveting portrayal of a charismatic candidate running for mayoral office whose populist image masks a very fragile ego and a desire to maintain absolute power at any cost.
The story unfolds from the viewpoint of Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), the young caretaker of an empty mansion owned by Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara), a retired general. Rakib’s family has been in service to Purna’s ancestors for generations, but, with his father in prison and his brother abroad, he’s the last of his clan to be forced into subservience.
When Purna suddenly...
American arthouse audiences should be especially receptive to its riveting portrayal of a charismatic candidate running for mayoral office whose populist image masks a very fragile ego and a desire to maintain absolute power at any cost.
The story unfolds from the viewpoint of Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), the young caretaker of an empty mansion owned by Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara), a retired general. Rakib’s family has been in service to Purna’s ancestors for generations, but, with his father in prison and his brother abroad, he’s the last of his clan to be forced into subservience.
When Purna suddenly...
- 9/3/2022
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
Makbul Mubarak is a former film critic turned filmmaker, who has shot several acclaimed shorts before “Autobiography”, his feature debut which is premiering today in the Orrizonti section of Venice. Mubarak grew up in Indonesia during the latter days of the dictatorship, which lasted from 1966-1998, and describes the film as an“emotional investigation” into his childhood.
Autobiogarphy is screening at Venice International Film Festival
Rakib, a young man, is living on his own, as his father is in prison and his brother abroad for work. Eventually, Purna, a retired general whose family Rakib’s clan have served for centuries in a rural Indonesian town, comes to him and essentially forces him to be his assistant, living with him in his mansion, driving him around as he is campaigning for the next election, and doing whatever deed the older man assigns. An initially reluctant Rakim finds himself more and more attached to Purna,...
Autobiogarphy is screening at Venice International Film Festival
Rakib, a young man, is living on his own, as his father is in prison and his brother abroad for work. Eventually, Purna, a retired general whose family Rakib’s clan have served for centuries in a rural Indonesian town, comes to him and essentially forces him to be his assistant, living with him in his mansion, driving him around as he is campaigning for the next election, and doing whatever deed the older man assigns. An initially reluctant Rakim finds himself more and more attached to Purna,...
- 9/3/2022
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Feature debutant Makbul Mubarak’s “Autobiography,” which premieres in Venice’s Horizons strand on Saturday, is a deeply personal tale informed by his own experiences.
The film, which is being sold by Alpha Violet, follows young Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), whose father is in prison and whose brother works abroad. He works as the housekeeper in a mansion in a rural Indonesian town belonging to retired general Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara). Purna returns to the town to start his mayoral election campaign and Rakib, whose clan has worked for the general’s family for centuries, serves as his assistant. An act of vandalism during the campaign triggers an escalating chain of violence.
Mubarak, formerly a film critic, made several acclaimed shorts before embarking on the aptly titled “Autobiography,” which he describes an “emotional investigation” into his childhood. He grew up in Indonesia during the latter days of the dictatorship, which lasted...
The film, which is being sold by Alpha Violet, follows young Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), whose father is in prison and whose brother works abroad. He works as the housekeeper in a mansion in a rural Indonesian town belonging to retired general Purna (Arswendy Bening Swara). Purna returns to the town to start his mayoral election campaign and Rakib, whose clan has worked for the general’s family for centuries, serves as his assistant. An act of vandalism during the campaign triggers an escalating chain of violence.
Mubarak, formerly a film critic, made several acclaimed shorts before embarking on the aptly titled “Autobiography,” which he describes an “emotional investigation” into his childhood. He grew up in Indonesia during the latter days of the dictatorship, which lasted...
- 9/3/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Indonesia’s Makbul Mubarak is making quite a splash with his debut feature “Autobiography,” which is world premiering at Venice’s Horizons strand and then playing at Toronto’s Contemporary World Cinema section.
The film, which examines the effects of Indonesia’s military dictatorship on the country’s youth, follows a young man torn between loyalty and justice who confronts the truth of his father figure — a retired general — that may destroy them both.
Mubarak, film critic-turned-filmmaker and a Berlinale Talents and Asian Film Academy alumni, previously directed acclaimed short films “The Dog’s Lullaby” (2016), “Malediction” (2017) and “A Plastic Cup of Tea Before Her” (2018).
The cast includes Kevin Ardilova, Arswendy Bening Swara, Yusuf Mahardika, Lukman Sardi and Haru Sandra.
” ‘Autobiography’ is a story very specific to Indonesia because it addresses the legacy of our history, but at the same time, it also addresses the world we are co-existing in now: the heavy price of ignorance,...
The film, which examines the effects of Indonesia’s military dictatorship on the country’s youth, follows a young man torn between loyalty and justice who confronts the truth of his father figure — a retired general — that may destroy them both.
Mubarak, film critic-turned-filmmaker and a Berlinale Talents and Asian Film Academy alumni, previously directed acclaimed short films “The Dog’s Lullaby” (2016), “Malediction” (2017) and “A Plastic Cup of Tea Before Her” (2018).
The cast includes Kevin Ardilova, Arswendy Bening Swara, Yusuf Mahardika, Lukman Sardi and Haru Sandra.
” ‘Autobiography’ is a story very specific to Indonesia because it addresses the legacy of our history, but at the same time, it also addresses the world we are co-existing in now: the heavy price of ignorance,...
- 8/26/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Indonesia’s 2021 Oscar pick, “Yuni,” played as the Centerpiece Screening at the 45th Asian American Film Festival this year. Kamila Andini’s latest also reaped its own fair share of awards back during its competitive circuit run. With 5 wins and 20 nominations, Andini – and newcomer actress Arawinda Kirana – gathered acclaim from Toronto all the way back to their home country. It’s little wonder why: the film illustrates a compelling portrayal of a high school girl harshly greeted by the world of adulthood.
Here, Andini weaves together a coming-of-age story of a bright high school student, Yuni (played by Kirana). Like most girls her age, Yuni is relatively clueless about the realities of womanhood. She does know two things, however: she wants to pursue a university scholarship, and she loves the color purple. In order to execute the former, however, she must stay single – and brush up on her Indonesian Literature grade,...
Here, Andini weaves together a coming-of-age story of a bright high school student, Yuni (played by Kirana). Like most girls her age, Yuni is relatively clueless about the realities of womanhood. She does know two things, however: she wants to pursue a university scholarship, and she loves the color purple. In order to execute the former, however, she must stay single – and brush up on her Indonesian Literature grade,...
- 8/20/2022
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
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