Arisan!
Arisan! (also known as The Gathering) is a 2003 Indonesian film. It is the first Indonesian film with a gay theme, and the first Indonesian film to use high-definition color enhancement. It uses a mixture of English, standard Indonesian and Jakartan slang. Arisan! became the second film in Indonesian film history to win all six major awards in Festival Film Indonesia (FFI), including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress, after Ibunda in 1986. Arisan! was also the first film in Indonesian film history to include two men kissing, by the characters Sakti and Nino (Tora Sudiro and Surya Saputra). The two won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor at the Festival Film Indonesia (FFI).
| Arisan! also known as The Gathering | |
|---|---|
 Arisan! film poster | |
| Directed by | Nia Dinata |
| Produced by | Nia Dinata |
| Written by | Joko Anwar Nia Di Nata |
| Starring | Cut Mini Theo Tora Sudiro Surya Saputra Aida Nurmala |
| Distributed by | Kalyana Shira Film |
Release date | 10 December 2003 |
Running time | 129 minutes |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Language | Indonesian |
| Budget | ~ 2,000,000,000 rupiah |
A television series as a continuation of the movie with the same title has been airing on AnTV.
As of 2019/2020 the movie is streaming on Netflix (USA) under its English title The Gathering.
Plot
The story is based in Jakarta in Indonesia. It revolves around three main characters, Meimei, Andien and Sakti, who struggle to maintain their facade of perfection in front of their arisan friends. An arisan is a meeting fraternity of upscale female socialites in Jakarta who meet regularly to share gossip and draw lots to see who takes home the money they all contribute.
The main character is Meimei (Cut Mini Theo), an interior designer with a business of her own. Her husband has left her for an actress, and also finds out that she cannot get pregnant. When she finally finds a new love interest, Nino (Surya Saputra), it turns out that Nino is more interested in her best friend, Sakti (Tora Sudiro). While another friend Andien (Aida Nurmala), is a betrayed wife.
Sakti is the gay character who, at the start, is in denial of his homosexual identity, and afraid of what his family and friends will think of him. Then he enters a relationship with another man (Nino), and must learn to face new challenges. The relationship between the two was complicated, but they're trying to keep it strong.
Cast
- Meimei - Cut Mini Theo
- Nino - Surya Saputra
- Sakti - Tora Sudiro
- Andien - Aida Nurmala
- Lita - Rachel Maryam Sayidina
- Grace - Lili Harahap
- Fanny - Aurora Yahya
- Nuri - Wilza Lubis
- Ical - Nico Siahaan
- Masseur - Tika Panggabean
- Psychiatrist - Jajang C. Noer
- Yayuk Asmara - Ria Irawan
- Rama - Indra Birowo
Trivia
Arisan is a common term for a monthly social gathering between friends and relatives who chip in money to be won in turns through a lucky draw. From villagers in far-flung areas to urban professionals in big cities, arisan - initially born as a type of support network for ethnic Chinese merchants - is hugely popular among Indonesia's 210 million people, especially housewives. But some arisan in Jakarta have grown into an exhibit of wealth featuring a who's who of high society.[1]