Letters from Prague

Letters from Prague (Indonesian: Surat dari Praha) is a 2016 Indonesian drama film directed by Angga Dwimas Sasongko. It was selected as the Indonesian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.[1]

Letters from Prague
Film poster
Directed byAngga Dwimas Sasongko
Written byM Irfan Ramli
Produced byAngga Dwimas Sasongko
Anggia Kharisma
Handoko Hendroyono
Chicco Jerikho
Glenn Fredly
StarringJulie Estelle
Tio Pakusadewo
Widyawati
Rio Dewanto
CinematographyIvan Anwal Pane
Edited byAhsan Andrian
Music byGlenn Fredly
Release date
  • 28 January 2016 (2016-01-28)
Running time
93 Minutes
CountryIndonesia
LanguagesIndonesian
Czech
English

Plot

The will of Sulastri Kusumaningrum, the mother of Kemala Dahayu Larasati (colloquially Laras), states that she bequeathed her house to Laras, with the condition that she send a box of old letters to Mahdi Jayasri (colloquially Jaya), an old man living in Prague who works at a stage theater. Though eager of the bequest following her divorce with an unfaithful husband, Laras is reluctant of the condition, but nevertheless accepts. The passive-aggressive Jaya rejects the presence of the letters, then grieve alone. Laras angrily goes to a hotel, but finds herself in culture shock, prompting Jaya to allow her to stay in his apartment.

Alone, Laras decides to read the letters herself. It is revealed that Jaya was Sulastri's fiance who failed to fulfill his promise to return decades ago due to Indonesia's transition to the New Order, where Suharto opposers are banned from Indonesia. He, alongside three other peers, exited Indonesia via the Port of Belawan emigrating to Czechoslovakia, living in exile in Prague. Laras concludes that her mother used to lock herself daily waiting for Jaya's return, harming her parents' psychology and household. Jaya says he refused to accept the letters as he had let go of his past, but after a painful lecture by Laras, he tearfully accepts.

After cooling off the next day, Jaya invites Laras to a casual lunch, where she learns the internal, caring attitude Jaya has. Jaya later tells more of his stories to Laras, and the consequences of his opposition towards Suharto, though is satisfied with his decision. In exchange, Laras tells her stories to Jaya offscreen. Both feel an internal connection between them, leading to Jaya writing a song dedicated to Laras. Concluding the day, Jaya commits to treating Laras as his daughter; Laras accepts.

The next morning, Laras tells Jaya to forgive the past and return to Indonesia. Jaya angrily confronts her, expressing hate towards Indonesia. Laras concludes that he is unable to forgive himself. Jaya reads a reply letter from Sulastri, where it is revealed that Laras' full name is the one Jaya wanted for her possible daughter. Sulastri purposefully told Laras to fly to Prague to send Jaya's letters, hoping that by meeting her, he can forgive the past and quell his anger. Jaya stops the fleeing Laras and they both reconcile.

Cast

Main
A former Indonesian student in the 1960s who was exiled in Prague
A divorced woman trying to fulfill her deceased mother's last wish to deliver a box filled with letters from her past to an old man living in Prague
Larasati's mother and Jaya's former fiance
An Indonesian student working as a part-time bartender in Prague

Supporting
  • Chicco Jerikho
Larasati's ex-husband

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref(s)
2016 Usmar Ismail Awards Best Film Letters From Prague Won [2]
Best Director Angga Dwimas Sasongko Won
Best Actor Tio Pakusadewo Won
Best Supporting Actress Widyawati Nominated
Best Editing Ahsan Andrian Nominated
Best Sound Satrio Budiono Nominated
Best Music Thoersi Argeswara
Glenn Fredly		 Nominated
2016 2016 Indonesian Movie Awards Best Actor Tio Pakusadewo Nominated [3]
Best Actress Julie Estelle Nominated
Most Favorite Actor Tio Pakusadewo Nominated
Most Favorite Actress Julie Estelle Won
Most Favorite Film Letters from Prague Nominated
Best Chemistry Tio Pakusadewo
Julie Estelle		 Nominated
Lifetime Achievement Widyawati Recipient

See also

References
  1. Simanjuntak, Tertiani (23 September 2016). "'Surat dari Praha' to represent Indonesia at Oscars". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  2. "Daftar Nominasi Usmar Ismail Awards 2016" (Press release). Fimela. 18 March 2016.
  3. "Daftar Nominasi Lengkap Indonesia Movie Actors Awards 2016 Diumumkan" (Press release). Sindo News. 28 April 2016.
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