Directed by Nayoto Fio Nuala, this is definitely one for the
girls, in fact, the chick flick to end all chick flicks. The entirety of the film is permeated by soft
piano music, the occasional soaring strings as well as falling blossoms,
billowing curtains, flowers, doves and even a rainbow.
The film begins with a glamorous party in celebration of the
engagement between the elegantly dressed Alia and Abi. Alia is found the following morning having
suffered a stroke and she is rushed off to hospital in Jakarta. Whilst Alia lies in her hospital bed
surrounded by her tearful friends and relatives, her new fiancee Abi finds
Alia’s diary and, against the advice of Rena (Alia’s best friend), reads it
cover to cover. The reading of the diary
opens up a pandora’s box of emotions like jealously and sadness. Abi learns that Alia had fallen in love with
a boy, Sunny, when she was at high school.
Despite the time elapsing and her recent engagement to Abi, Alia’s
intense felling had not changed. Abi
tracks down Sunny whom he convinces to come to the hospital to see Alia, much
to the dismay of Sunny’s wife. Of
course, it all ends in tears, Sunny confessing to Abi that he still had
feelings for Alia. The boys hold vigil
by the tragically beautiful Alia’s sick bed and finally, she dies.
This film is a melodrama. As straight out tearjerker. It is pure escapism for those who want to
take a dip in a calm pool of sweet melancholy emotion. Everybody in the film is shiny, elegant,
rich, beautiful, and filmed in soft light.
Everything is in its rightful place with no hint on animosity between
Abi and Sunny or between Sunny and his wife.
There are simply just tears and sadness, mirrored by the frequent
appearance of drizzle in the film. What
is the moral to the story? If you keep a
personal diary, hide it really well!
Yet, it must be said that what this film lacks in plot, it makes up for
in aesthetics of cinematography. “Cinta
pertama” is very well filmed and edited, which has English subtitles each film
shot beautifully presented with expert lighting and evidence of the balanced
artistic eye of the director.
This film does not, reflect
a true image of the full cross-section of Indonesian society, but an idealized
view of the world, in order to entertain. This film is recommended for year Seven to Twelve students.
