JAKARTA – “I learnt in school about what happened in 1965. I knew exactly how it happened. Turns out it was my own family who experienced it. Maybe that’s why my mom was traumatized”.
The sentence above is a piece of dialogue said by Arum, a character played by Indonesian actress Putri Marino, in the Gadis Kretek (Cigarette Girl) movie.
Directed by Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah, it reached the 10th most popular film list on Netflix.
Set in 1965, Gadis Kretek depicts the condition of the victims of the wrongful arrest incident which is depicted implicitly in each scene.
Arum, one of the characters in the story, lives without knowing the history of her family, which was supposed to dominate the kretek cigarette market in Jakarta.
Throughout her life, she also never knew that her mother was the inventor of the best cigarette sauce.
She lives her days as a doctor with her aunt, Rukayah (Nungki Kusumastuti), who is sick and has dementia.
Her life then takes a turn when a man named Lebas (Arya Saloka) comes to look for some lights on the whereabouts of Jeng Yah, the woman behind the success of Djagad Raya cigarettes in Indonesia.
Arum and Lebas never knew that Jeng Yah was the only person entitled to all the cigarette sales.
She was the first woman to be able to create the best kretek aroma and flavor and was in demand by many people in her time.
Unfortunately, Jeng Yah and her father had to become victims of wrongful arrest due to competition in the kretek cigarette business at that time.
Directors Take Rukayah’s Character Seriously
Nungki Kusumastuti is not new to the Indonesian film industry.
In 2023, she returned to the screen through the character of Rukayah in the Gadis Kretek movie.
Nungki makes the character of Rukayah very different and important. The directors are very serious about working on her character.
It is because she is required to play the figure of Rukayah who lives in suffering while raising her sister’s child, Jeng Yah.
Nungki is an exceptional actress. She managed to steal the show when she appeared in the third episode of the film.
Rukayah, played thoroughly by her, makes anyone feel the deep trauma caused by the events of 1965.
So, prepare some tissues if you plan to watch this film. The 5 episodes in this series will take you to the glory of Indonesian kretek cigarettes in the past.
The cinematography of Gadis Kretek movie itself deserves a thumbs up. Throughout the film, you will be spoiled by stunning, clean cuts and scenes.
It is fair to say that we must wish for more filmmakers like Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah in the future.
