Pacar Ketinggalan Kereta


Pacar Ketinggalan Kereta is a 1989 film by Indonesian director Teguh Karya. It was his last feature film.

Plot

At a party celebrating the Padmos 25th wedding anniversary, a fit of jealousy breaks out. Mrs Padmo is jealous of her husband's secretary, Retno, who often rides in the same car as Mr Padmo. Meanwhile, the Padmos' son Heru is with Ipah, while the family's driver Martubi is with Retno's maid Juminten. This situation is exacerbated by the Padmos' daughter Riri dating Retno's son Arsal. This leads to numerous misunderstandings, which are worked out by the end of the film.

Production

Pacar Ketinggalan Kereta was directed by Teguh Karya, a Chinese-Indonesian director who had made numerous critically acclaimed films, including November 1828 and Ibunda. It was Karya's last feature film.
Casting had begun by February 1988. Ayu Azhari, who had previously appeared in several of Karya's works, took a small role. Tuti Indra Malaon, another actress who had appeared in several of Karya's works, was cast as Mrs. Padmo; this was her last film role, as she died shortly before the film's premiere.
The film featured the song "Kijang Muda", by Ruth Sahanaya.

Style

Pacar Ketinggalan Kereta is quickly paced, due in part to its large cast. The storytelling technique, using three different and seemingly unrelated sets of characters before the climax united them all, was reminiscent of Usmar Ismail's film Tiga Dara ; indeed, Karya had shown the cast this film before production began in October 1988. The film invokes aspects of a musical, but the music lacks integration with the story; this fault was common in Indonesian attempts at musicals in the 1980s.

Release and reception

Pacar Ketinggalan Kerta was released in October 1989. It was the most-viewed Indonesian film of 1989.
The Indonesian writer Putu Wijaya, reviewing in Tempo magazine, wrote that the film began quickly and moved fast enough to confuse viewers, but was concluded well.

Awards

Pacar Ketinggalan Kereta was nominated for thirteen Citra Awards at the 1989 Indonesian Film Festival, winning eight. This success was protested by Tempo writers Budiono Darsono and Putu Setia, who found Pacar Ketinggalan Kereta one of Karya's weaker films and commented that it seemed to be intended to win as many Citra Awards as possible. At the 1989 Bandung Film Festival, it won three awards.
AwardYearCategoryRecipientResult
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best FilmWon
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best DirectorTeguh KaryaWon
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best Artistic ArrangementAdji Mamat BorneoWon
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best EditingKarsono HadiWon
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best Sound ArrangementIwan MauritzWon
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best Leading ActorRachmat HidayatWon
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best Leading ActressTuti Indra MalaonWon
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best ScreenplayTeguh Karya, Arswendo AtmowilotoNomitated
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best Supporting ActressNurul ArifinNomitated
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best Supporting ActressNiniek L KarimWon
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best CinematographyHerman SusiloNomitated
Indonesian Film Festival1989Best Musical ArrangementIdris SardiNomitated
Bandung Film Festival1989Best DirectorTeguh KaryaWon
Bandung Film Festival1989Best Artistic ArrangementAdji Mamat BorneoWon
Bandung Film Festival1989Best EditingKarsono HadiWon
Indonesian Film Festival1990Best Selling Film of 1989Won
Bandung Film Festival1990Best FilmWon