Imagine an Indonesian Faust, draped in the deep shadows of German Expressionism. SETAN JAWA by Garin Nugroho is no dusty retro-experiment, but a haunting black-and-white ritual where dark magic and modern cinema collide.
A Visual & Sonic Masterpiece
Metropolis meets Nosferatu: in Garin Nugroho’s SETAN JAWA (2017), the visual language of German Expressionism is masterfully blended with Javanese shadow theatre and mysticism. Filmed in stark black-and-white, this Indonesian take on the classic Faustian tale is a wonderful re-interpretation of silent cinema as a contemporary art form.
The story follows Setio, a poor mat-weaver who makes a pact with dark forces to gain wealth so he can marry Asih, a woman from a higher class. But power comes at a heavy price. As his ambition spirals out of control, love becomes a tragic sacrifice. The film is carried by the physical, almost hypnotic presence of Asmara Abigail, pulling you into a whirlwind of Javanese mysticism.
Breathing Life into the Shadows
This is a unique opportunity to experience this internationally presented work in Antwerp for the first time. This is more than just a screening: the film is "reborn" live through the voice, breath, and percussion of phenomenal Javanese singer and composer Peni Candra Rini.
She is joined on stage by musician Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė and multi-instrumentalist Prof. Dr. Andy McGraw (Chair, Music Department, University of Richmond). Having brought their spellbinding gamelan sounds to stages like Carnegie Hall and the Smithsonian, they now arrive in Antwerp. Reborn through voice, percussion, and sound, Rini’s new score deeply revitalises traditional gamelan boundaries.
A co-production of Het Bos and De Cinema. With thanks to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Brussels.