9 Dragons

Life is all about choices. 9 Dragons is the story of three bosom buddies: Marwan, Donny and Lenny. They fight to the bitter end for their friendship. Everyone has respect for Marwan. He was a hard kid who now works as a hit man, with the aid of Donny and Lenny. They work together to complete every job they get offered. In the meantime, they realise that their way of life does not offer a better future. A terrifying and unexpected situation crops up. From that moment on, they feel as if they’ve been shaken awake from a long nightmare and are disgusted by their choices in life. This is followed by a struggle to escape from their own crimes. Rudi Soedjarwo previously made the charming film Chasing the Sun, about the friendship between several kids growing up in the same poor neighbourhood. With this film, he makes an equally powerful yet darker variation. The neighbourhood is even poorer. The houses are slums. And the protagonist is a hardened criminal – who has a good heart somewhere. Like the film itself. Even before the film was released, the poster was banned in Indonesia. Some people say it’s because the manly torso of actor Fauzi Baadila has a bare navel. Others argue that the irony of the text on the poster – which says that the best Indonesian is a criminal – was not appreciated. (GjZ)