Photocopier

A young woman suffers a hangover from hell in Wregas Bhanuteja’s mystery thriller.

Sur (Shenina Syawalita Cinnamon) is a computer sciences student on the cusp of receiving a big scholarship. She is also doing some website work for her university’s local performing art troupe Mata Hari. After the group is picked to perform their Medusa and Perseus act in Kyoto, they all celebrate at the house of Rama (Giulio Parengkuan), whose art installation of the Milky Way is also part of the performance.

The morning after, Sur wakes up at home to a furious father, a worried mother and a lost scholarship. Supposed selfies of her drunk at the party surface online, which puts her character into question. Kicked out of the house and believing she was drugged, Sur shacks up with her friend Amin (Chicco Kurniawan) who runs a photocopier shop at the campus, and begins investigating what happened that night.

The story’s overarching mystery is extremely compelling. The Mata Hari dance troupe has just enough weirdos to support the idea that anyone (or even everyone) could be behind Sur’s troubles. Her plight is made all the more immersive by the fact that every lead she had ends up being blocked by endless red tape, pointless regulations and a faculty who refuses to acknowledge anything that doesn’t conform with what they already believe.

This makes Photocopier quite frustrating, but in an intentional way.  Many of the immovable objects she has to deal with have practically no common sense, though it becomes apparent later on that they’ve simply created a version of the story in their heads and refuse to change it, even when faced with proof. This forces Sur into some pretty tight corners and some unenviable positions.

Photocopier also leans in heavily to accepted social norms within the heavily Muslim country of Indonesia. There’s naturally a bit of a disconnect between it and myself, who isn’t particularly familiar with the country. I was surprised that the story kicks off just because photos of Sur drinking are posted online. In the west, this wouldn’t be a particularly bad thing, and (if popular media is to be believed) maybe encouraged. If you can’t keep up with the boys, after all, how do they know if you’re a good fit for the company?

But details aside, there’s a relatability to what Sur’s going through. She’s fighting an uphill battle where everyone is ready to turn on her at a moment’s notice and even some of her closest friends are potential suspects. Cinnamon does a fantastic job of keeping Sur on the edge of breaking down at any point, and her energy in some scenes keeps the momentum going even when the movie starts to falter. It’s an engaging mystery within a culture I knew little about, which made it even more interesting, and certainly worth checking out.

Verdict: Loaded with interesting and engrossing plot developments and bolstered by a moody atmosphere and a strong female lead, Photocopier is an excellent example of Indonesia’s growing cinematic potential.

Overall entertainment: 8/10
Violence: 1/10
Sex: 0/10
Suspense: 8/10
Kebaya: Only wear it on women’s day or people will find you suspicious
Unanswered questions: So did she take her own selfies? The security footage would suggest so.
Rama: There have got to be easier ways to get material for your art, surely

Photocopier (2021)
Also known as: Penyalin Cahaya
Indonesian

Director: Wregas Bhanuteja
Writers: Henricus Pria, Wregas Bhanuteja

CAST

Shenina Syawalita Cinnamon – Suryani
Chicco Kurniawan – Amin
Lutesha – Farah
Jerome Kurnia – Tariq
Dea Panendra – Anggun
Giulio Parengkuan – Rama
Lukman Sardi – Sur’s father
Ruth Marini – Sur’s mother
Yayan Ruhian – Rama’s father
Landung Simatupang – Burhan
Rukman Rosadi – Sur’s college dean
Mian Tiara – Siti