Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts

  • 95'
  • Indonesia
  • 2017

The countryside on the Indonesian island Sumba is an inhospitable place – particularly for women. Marlina finds this out painfully when a gang of robbers breaks into her home demanding her virtue, and her livestock. Recovering from the initial shock, she decides not to give in without a fight.

The bare landscape is the perfect setting for this revenge Western, with a laconic yet determined Marlina in the lead role. The people she meets on her path to justice accept her mission as a matter of course, along with the fact that she carries the head of one of her tormentors around with her.

This story, full of dry humour and accompanied by an atmospheric soundtrack, unfolds in tightly framed shots of the photogenic landscape and the mystical interior of Marlina's wooden house. The original idea for the film, included in Cannes' Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, was by IFFR veteran Garin Nugroho, who thought a woman should tell the story.

  • 95'
  • Indonesia
  • 2017
Director
Mouly Surya
Country of production
Indonesia
Year
2017
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
95'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Marlina si pembunuh dalam empat babak
Language
Indonesian
Producers
Fauzan Rizal, Rama Adi
Production Companies
Cinesurya, Kaninga Pictures
Sales
Asian Shadows
Screenplay
Mouly Surya, Rama Adi, Garin Nugroho
Cinematography
Yunus Pasolang
Editor
Kelvin Nugroho
Production Design
Frans Paat
Sound Design
Khikmawan Santosa
Music
Yudhi Kurniawan, Zeke Khaseli
Cast
Marsha Timothy, Dea Panendra, Egy Fedly, Yoga Pratama
Local Distributor
Periscoop Film
Director
Mouly Surya
Country of production
Indonesia
Year
2017
Festival Edition
IFFR 2018
Length
95'
Medium
DCP
Original title
Marlina si pembunuh dalam empat babak
Language
Indonesian
Producers
Fauzan Rizal, Rama Adi
Production Companies
Cinesurya, Kaninga Pictures
Sales
Asian Shadows
Screenplay
Mouly Surya, Rama Adi, Garin Nugroho
Cinematography
Yunus Pasolang
Editor
Kelvin Nugroho
Production Design
Frans Paat
Sound Design
Khikmawan Santosa
Music
Yudhi Kurniawan, Zeke Khaseli
Cast
Marsha Timothy, Dea Panendra, Egy Fedly, Yoga Pratama
Local Distributor
Periscoop Film

Programme IFFR 2018

Limelight

Avant-premieres of some of the cinematic highlights of the year: international award-winners and festival favourites that will be released in Dutch cinemas after IFFR.

Read more about this programme