Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan (2017 film)

Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan is a 2017 Indonesian adventure drama film produced by Falcon Pictures. Based on the novel of the same name by Agnes Davonar, it was directed by Fajar Bustomi and produced by Frederica, written by Upi and Bustomi, with Andreas Sullivan co-directing. The film stars the ensemble cast including Bunga Citra Lestari, Joe Taslim, Lukman Sardi, Bima Azriel, Izzati Khansa, Rifnu Wikana, Ben Joshua, Maudy Koesnadi, Jeroen Lezer, Chew Kin Wah, Susan Bachtiar and Dorman Borisman. Set in the early 2000s, the story follows Anton (Azriel) and Angel (Khansa), the orphan siblings who were stuck in a syndication in which uses homeless children.

Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFajar Bustomi
Screenplay byUpi Avianto
Story byFajar Bustomi
Based onSurat Kecil untuk Tuhan
by Agnes Davonar
Produced byFrederica
Starring
CinematographyYudi Datau
Edited byRyan Purwoko
Music byAndhika Triyadi
Production
company
Falcon Pictures
Distributed byFalcon Pictures
Release date
  • 25 June 2017 (2017-06-25) (Indonesia)
CountryIndonesia
LanguageIndonesian
BudgetRp10 billion[1]
Box officeRp26,4 billion[2]

Following the release of My Stupid Boss, Upi began working on the project when the idea first started. She pitched the concept to Falcon to develop Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan, while the story is inspired by family films, like Lion and Frozen. Development for Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan lasted for six months, on an approximate 10 billion Rupiah budget, and the film faced production difficulties, including story changes.[1]

Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan was premiered on 20 June 2017,[3] and was released in Indonesia on 25 June. The film earned 26,4 billion rupiah, finishing its theatrical run as the fifteenth highest-grossing Indonesian film of 2017. The film won Bandung Film Festival for Best Cinematography and AMI Award for Best Children's Album, respectively. It also nominated for Citra Award for Best Child Performance and Indonesian Choice Award for Movie of the Year.

Plot

In 2002, Anton and Angel were stuck in a syndication in which children that became homeless, making them never knew their beautiful childhood. Their uncle, Rudi, scolds them because they didn't have money. Angel met her childhood friend, Mirna, started to play in the playground. Suddenly, Asep and Rudi arrives and gives them a punishment, in which Angel had blood on her legs, while Anton singing on the street, then they were back home. Angel later met Martin, who sitting on the wheelchair, while Martin's mother takes pictures with Anton, Angel and Martin. A roadway accident making Angel's separation with Anton. She was no longer knew where her brother is.

Fifteen years after in Sydney, Australia, Angel grew up into a beautiful, smart girl, which makes her dream to become a lawyer. Here, Angel reunites Martin, a kind, young doctor that makes her fell in love, in which her life is full of happiness. When Martin went to hospital, he tells the story about a pilot to Ricky, which he died due to a heart attack. Anton had a heart surgery by Rudi, making Angel forgetting him.

Angel was reported to married with Martin, until she returns to Jakarta to find her brother. In the court, Rudi starts to tell the story about homeless children, then Angel continues it. A television news anchor reports an event about the human trade in front of a syndication surrounded by police lines, making Angel crying throughout when she contacts Martin in the hotel. Angel and Martin did activities at school, until they went back home and cries. Angel went to the graveyard after her brother died of a heart attack.

Cast
  • Bunga Citra Lestari as Angel, a lawyer who forget her beautiful childhood
    • Izzati Khansa as young Angel
  • Joe Taslim as Martin, a young doctor who took the heart specialist
    • Yuvens as young Martin
  • Bima Azriel as Anton, Angel's elder brother
  • Lukman Sardi as Rudi
  • Aura Kasih as Ningsih
    • Avril Sigarlaki as young Ningsih
  • Rifnu Wikana as Asep
  • Ben Joshua as Joko
  • Maudy Koesnaedi as Soraya
  • Jeroen Lezer as Edward
  • Chew Kin Wah as Martin's father
  • Susan Bachtiar as Martin's mother
  • Dorman Borisman as Mr. Wiryawan
  • Kevin Bzezovski Taroreh as Ricky, a 10-year-old boy
  • Nadia Bulan Sofya as Mirna, Angel's childhood friend
  • Aqeela Calista as Maria, Angel's friend

Production

Development

The film's origins trace back to June 2016, when Falcon approached Upi about the pitch of the film adaptation following the success of her film My Stupid Boss.[4]

Writing

My Stupid Boss director Upi Avianto was hired to write the screenplay.[5] Ultimately, Upi received "screenplay by" credit, while Bustomi received "story by" credit.

Lestari cited family films like Lion (2016) and Frozen (2013) as particular influences when she enjoyed leaning into the drama as a storytelling genre.[6][7]

Music
Main article: Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan (soundtrack)

A full soundtrack album was released by Falcon Music on 19 May, a month before the film's release, and was curated to represent Anton and Angel's childhood.[8] The girl choristers of the Purwa Caraka Music Studio Choir served as the soundtrack singer for the film, marking their first collaboration with Falcon Pictures. In the soundtrack session, Bustomi felt its songs "heartwarming" and "nostalgic", when they're inserted into the film, it brings the majestic ambience.[9]

Release

Theatrical and streaming

In Indonesia, Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan was released with Sweet 20, Jailangkung and Insya Allah Sah.[10] In Malaysia, Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan released on 3 August through GSC Movies as the distributor.[11] In September 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic closing most theaters worldwide including Indonesia and limiting what films played, Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan was added to Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia on 5 September 2020.[12]

Leak onto Instagram

On 2 July 2017, a clip of the film was illegally posted onto Syahrini's Instagram story until it was removed by moderators. The incident has raised concerns about Indonesian anti-piracy law of films.[13]

Reception

Box office

In Indonesia, Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan was grossed over 26 billion rupiah. The film left theaters by August 2017, making it the year's fifteenth highest-grossing film.[2]

Accolades

At the 30th Bandung Film Festival, Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan won Best Cinematography. The film's other nominations include Citra Award for Best Child Performance,[14] Indonesian Choice Award for Movie of the Year,[15] and an AMI Award (which it won Best Children's Album).[16]

References
  1. "Produksi Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan Telan Budget Miliaran Rupiah" [Production of Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan costs budget of billion rupiah]. Detik (in Indonesian). 5 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  2. "Kisah Pilu Film Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan". Bintang. Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  3. "Premier Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan Ramai Diserbu Penonton". Detik Hot. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  4. "Lagi, Novel Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan Akan Dibuat Film" [Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan novel readapted into another film]. Liputan 6. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  5. "BCL Bintangi Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan, Produser: Ini Bukan Remake" [BCL stars Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan, producer: This isn't a remake]. Tempo. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  6. "Film Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan Mirip Frozen?" [Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan copying Frozen?]. Liputan 6. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  7. "Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan Dinilai Mirip Lion, Ini Kata BCL". Detik. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  8. "Dramatis, Sutradara Pakai Paduan Suara di Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan" [Dramatic, the director used a choir in Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan]. Fimela (in Indonesian). 24 May 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  9. "Dirilis, OST Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan Siap Ajak Nostalgia" [Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan soundtrack was released to invite everyone to bring back their memories]. Kapan Lagi. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  10. Afrisia, Rizky Sekar (25 June 2017). "Film Indonesia Kuasai Bioskop saat Lebaran". CNN Indonesia. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  11. "Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan Siap Tayang di Malaysia" [Surat Kecil untuk Tuhan is prepared to release in Malaysia]. Kapan Lagi. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  12. "Disney+ Hotstar to officially launch in Indonesia". NME. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  13. "Syahrini Rekam Film Tanpa Izin, Joe Taslim Bilang" [Syahrini illegally recorded this film, Joe Taslim said]. JPNN. 2 July 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  14. Juniman, Puput Tripeni (6 October 2017). "Daftar Lengkap Nominasi Piala Citra FFI 2017". CNN Indonesia. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  15. "Daftar Lengkap Nominasi Indonesian Choice Awards 5.0 NET". Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  16. Priherdityo, Endro (13 October 2017). "Daftar Lengkap Nominasi AMI 2017". CNN Indonesia. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
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