TOBA DREAMS (2015)

How many movies can make the audience cry? Lot. Even the cheesy romance ala Nicholas Sparks was tearjerker effective. But how many films that could make the tears flow because the audience is able to represent their feelings? I'm not talking about myself, or a few, but the majority of the audience at least in the room where I was watching. The answer is not much. Toba Dreams arable Benni Setiawan is one of them. The title is to use the name "Toba". S etting and the character was so strong traditional element of North Sumatra. But the story that brought this film is never limited by any alias universal . Character representing each generation. For the younger generation, or a child, a figure Ronggur (Vino G. Bastian) who has a dream to be successful in Jakarta and married a different woman with her ​​beliefs, Andini (Marsha Timothy).

Ronggur was stubborn and did not hesitate to rebel on their parents in order to live as he dreamed through her ​​own way. She was so upset when the father (Mathias Muchus) tried to arrange himself to be desired as his father. Impression rebel on the back of a strong desire to be able to achieve the dream in order to give evidence in the elderly. Aspect that makes the character Ronggur so close to the young audience, or rather those who started to move from adolescence to adulthood (including me). We've been there in that position. I never was in that position. As for viewers who are older or who have children age Ronggur, character Sergeant Tebe certainly feels represented. A harsh father, wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, to no less impressed so selfish. But behind it, the main reason for wanting the best future for Ronggur.



The relationship between Ronggur and father feels familiar to me. All that is in my life, lived mostly spectators. Debate and contention always occurs, even the cold war. But the scene outside the conclusion that stated verbally, long before it was Benni Setiawan has managed to imply that they love each other, just covered by something else. Another thing that can be ego and self-esteem. Indeed this kind of conflict has so often presented in the film. Only the "disease" that often happens is the figure of a child is often present as a helpless protagonist suffering without any other for extracting the background amplifies audience sympathy. While karater father often described to be an antagonist who is always angry and forces without the slightest implied compassion on the son. Before in the end the conclusion was miraculously both parties show love. Toba Dreams do not like it.

Each character has a reason and a strong motivation within themselves. Made the audience can finally understand, can come to feel without having to take sides. Both had dark moments when each of them had fallen and blinded. But the main focus of course is on Ronggur. After all spectators should be able to sympathize with him, and it worked. Fairly long duration (144 minutes) is used by Benni Setiawan so effectively to tell rounds character's life. Each round was presented with impartial quality. As a result we really know Ronggur since he was a hometown boy full of dreams and rebellion, then struggled in Jakarta, although it took him achieve success in a "black hole", until finally falling again. The story of the ups and downs of struggle is a cliché, can also be boring. But it will be so strong and emotional if each phase worked up. Ronggur was not just a two-dimensional character on the screen. He is us, or at least feels like a close relative who we know well.



To create not only the cultivation of Benni Setiawan and manuscripts which he wrote with TB Silalahi (novelist Toba Dreams ) who should be strong, but also acting each player. Therein Vino G. Bastian plays a major role. Without ruling out other factors, there are two most important things to animate characters Ronggur: transformation and motivation because of the pain hidden. Ronggur bertransofrmasi of village men whose ambition is to pursue the dream of being a well-established authoritative man who got everything. Vino was transformed smoothly. The second factor was he lakoni well. Burden and pain so real she radiated. As a tandem hadirlah Mathias Muchus. His eyes were hard firmness. But far behind it there is sadness. Sadness that several times only implied but enough to bring emotion. Especially when everything he present significantly.

Shouts and cries in contention so dominating Toba Dreams . A little excessive, but not to the extent that disturbing. For that kind of emotional outburst, what is indicated by this film is substantial. In accordance with the character and the situation. The theme exist in around the relationship of children and parents, ambition, to spark a conflict about religion. All three are present maximum imperceptibly overlap. As I have mentioned, the relationship of children and parents felt strongly, as well as the theme of ambition that brings ups and downs of the struggle. While the religious theme presents one of the most beautiful scenes in the film Indonesia, which is now carried a prayer before dinner at the home of Sergeant Thebes. Beautiful not because of cinematography, because Benni Setiawan to package this with a simple scene. Beautiful because that's the essence of togetherness as far as I wanted. That's when the tears increasingly unbearable.

Verdict: cinema lights flashing but my tears and many other spectators still flowing. It was not the cry of the results of "manipulation" depressing scene, but because we know what it feels disappointing parents, fell while reaching dreams, and love and be loved loved ones. Toba Dreams is as real, as strong and as beautiful as that.