Director Garin Nugroho combines traditional and modern Javanese dance to tell a poetic story about the beauty of the human body and discovering personal sexual identity, following four stages in the life of Juno.
Following the sudden departure of his father, young Juno joins a Lengger dance troupe, where men regularly play female roles. They practice an elegant, sensual dance style that really appeals to him, though he can also see how its appeal can lead to violence. This same violence forces him on the road time and again. In each village he moves to, he meets new remarkable and inspiring people.
+ Short Film: A Gift
Isfi wears her comfortable pants among her male friends but wears a hijab when she visits her friend Nita. Two days ahead of Nita’s birthday, Isfi focusses on preparing the best possible gift for Nita.
Isfi kan haar comfortabele broek dragen wanneer ze onder haar mannelijke vrienden is, maar moet haar hijab dragen wanneer ze haar vriendin Nita bezoekt. Twee dagen voor de verjaardag van Nita is Isfi alleen maar gefocust op de voorbereidingen van het beste cadeau voor haar vriendin.
About the directors:
Garin Nugroho (1961, Indonesia) graduated from the film academy in Jakarta in 1985. He has since amassed an impressive body of features, documentaries and shorts, is a film critic for several Indonesian newspapers and lectures at the University of Indonesia. His feature Leaf on a Pillow opened IFFR 1999. Memories of My Body is his nineteenth feature film.
Aditya Ahmad (1989, Indonesia) short Sepatu Baru received a special mention at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival. He participated in the 2014 Asian Film Academy (Busan International Film Festival) and the 2015 Berlinale Talents. His Latest short film, Kado, won the Orizzonti Award for best short film at the 2018 Venice International Film Festival.