Kamila Andini’s Yuni is a delicate, heartfelt and powerful look at young girl grappling with the weight of traditions in Indonesia, anchored by a terrific lead actress. This year’s Indonesian Oscar entry was presented at the 2022 BUFF Malmö Film Festival.
Some stories feel overly familiar – perhaps too familiar – particularly the coming-of-age story, which centers on a youngster whose ambitions are met with fierce resistance inside the family due to irrevocable traditions. However, when such a story is subtly crafted like in Indonesia’s 2022 Oscar entry Yuni, directed by Kamila Andini, they then turn into something bigger and become compelling and important reminders of such prevalent plagues.
As a nicely crafted film dealing with issues related to adolescence, Yuni was presented as an official selection at the 2022 BUFF Malmö Film Festival, the most important screening venue for films for children and young people in the Nordic countries (read our interview with Head of Programming Daniel Lundquist). Within this year’s programme, Yuni was presented alongside flagship titles such as The Path (dir. Tobias Wiemann), Medusa (dir. Anita Rocha Da Silveira), Shabu (dir. Shamira Raphaëla), Playground (dir. Laura Wandel), Sisterhood (dir. Dina Duma), Olga (dir. Elie Grappe), A Tale of Love and Desire (dir. Leyla Bouzid), or I Am Zlatan (dir. Jens Sjögren), the opening night film.
What comes to the fore in Yuni is the flair of director Kamila Andina’s approach to her subject, resulting in a delicate, heartfelt and poignant look at a young girl one empathizes with after just a few scenes. The film captures the quest of Yuni, a promising high school student willing to escape the traditions which would make her a teenage bride. As she boldly rejects marriage proposals by older men one by one, she faces greater social and family pressure. Yet, the director is confident enough in the power of her message not to overindulge in an artificially wrenching, maudlin tragedy. It is in fact the opposite. Although quite conventional in form, the film develops a charming neorealistic look in which the authenticity of the performances and the thoroughness of the directing enable Kamila Andini to dliver her message in a subtle, and therefore even more powerful way. Meanwhile, actress Arawinda Kirana, who plays the emotional center of the picture, has a beautiful grace. Arawinda shines, conveying the complexities of Yuni’s difficulties and the pressure she is under.
Overall, Yuni sheds a subtle light on a complex issue and delivers its eye-opening message with grace.
Many thanks to the team of BUFF Malmö Film Festival for having us covering the festival from Malmö.
