Cinema Prescription

Synopsis: A young girl seeks out imaginative ways to cope with the impending death of her twin brother. (IMDb)
Cast: Ida Bagus Putu Radithya Mahijasena, Ni Kadek Thaly Titi Kasih, Ayu Laksmi, I Ketut Rina, Happy Salma, Gusti Ayu Raka
Screenplay: Kamila Andini
Directed by: Kamila Andini

Brimming with scenes full of symbolism, Kamila Andini’s THE SEEN AND UNSEEN is a hauntingly hypnotic story of a little girl, Tantri, dealing with loss and mortality after her twin brother, Tantra, fell seriously ill. Andini projected Tantri’s sense of longing with dreamlike sequences, blurring the lines between the real world and its mystical counterpart; ranging from well-choreographed dances mimicking birds or monkeys, to the presence of children-formed spirits.

Some parts of this film can also be perceived as a tale of duality. Tantri and Tantra is a ‘Buncing’ twin, or a boy-and-girl twin, believed as a symbol of balance in the Balinese culture. In one sequence, Andini represented this yin-and-yang bond in the form of eggs; Tantra is the yolk, while Tantri the white parts. In other instances, we can feel their strong spiritual connection when Tantri’s anxiety grows stronger as Tantra’s condition gradually deteriorates.

With its mystical, cultural-inspired scenes, and arthouse-like poetic images, THE SEEN AND UNSEEN might only cater to a specific set of audience. It’s the kind of film that needs patience and deep appreciation of its culture, but this uniquely surreal coming-of-age tale is too good to be missed. Buoyed by incredible performances by the child actors and the rest of the cast, filled with beautiful shots and assured direction by Andini, the end result is quite rewarding. [B+]

A copy of my review on Instagram.