Garin Nugroho's film is about the Indonesian rock band "Slank". The group, known for its political lyrics, has been together for 25 years and has an enormous following throughout the country. "Slank" means "minority" and the community of fans make up something like a movement: the "Slankers" stand for peace, unity, and love, much like the American hippie movement in the sixties.
Part of the film documents a musical by the band that grapples with Indonesia's political history. It addresses the country’s severe problems and criticizes the government by exposing militarism, the abduction of dissidents, the death penalty, and torture as being the order of the day. The heroes of the musical are the cool winners, the "Blue Generation", inspiring others with their positive values much like the characters in "Hair".
Nugroho also shows us concert clips and Slank fans and enhances his film with comic book-style animated sequences commenting on the political situation in Indonesia. The film paints a multifaceted picture of the Slanker movement and offers a portrait of Indonesian society that is as unusual as it is striking.
Gabriela Seidel-Hollaender
Production: SET Film & Shooting Star, South Jakarta
Screenplay: Garin Nugroho
Camera: Arya Teja, Padri Nadeak
With Bimbim, Kaka, Ivan, Abde, Ridho (Slank), Nadine Chandrawinata, Chichi Kadijono
Format: 35mm (filmed on HDV), Black&White and Color
Running Time: 90 min.
Language: Indonesian
