Pasir berbisik (2001), shown here as "Whispering Sands," is a tragedy set in a landscape as alien to most of us as the moon. Impoverished Indonesians attempt to survive-- and to maintain a social framework--under harsh desert conditions. The bonds of friendship and family, and the demands of loyalty and honesty, are sometimes difficult to sustain even in the U.S.
When there is little food, little water, and little evidence of legal authority, these bonds and demands tend to suffer, as do the people who live under these circumstances.
The director has managed to portray this situation in a manner understandable to moviegoers (like myself), who didn't even realize that there *were* deserts in Indonesia.
Surely, people like me missed many of the more subtle references and nuances. Still, despite social and language barriers, this movie communicated a great deal to me.
I highly recommend it.
When there is little food, little water, and little evidence of legal authority, these bonds and demands tend to suffer, as do the people who live under these circumstances.
The director has managed to portray this situation in a manner understandable to moviegoers (like myself), who didn't even realize that there *were* deserts in Indonesia.
Surely, people like me missed many of the more subtle references and nuances. Still, despite social and language barriers, this movie communicated a great deal to me.
I highly recommend it.