DIRECTOR Joko Anwar announced his 11th feature film, Pengepungan di Bukit Duri (The Siege at Thorn High). Here are 11 facts about Joko Anwar’s 11th feature film.
1. Joko Anwar’s Oldest Film Screenplay
The screenplay for the film Pengepungan di Bukit Duri has been written by Joko Anwar since 2007. However, the film will only be produced in 2024 or 17 years later. Joko Anwar said it took a long time to be able to produce it because it required maturity and maturity both technically and in thought.
“I feel this film requires maturity as a filmmaker to make it. Waited 17 years. After 17 years, by sharpening the screenplay, I think I am mature enough to make this film. “Even though when you watch it you will get something entertaining from the characters, story and plot, behind it there are important issues,” said Joko Anwar during a press conference announcing the film Pengepungan di Bukit Duri at XXI Epicentrum, Kuningan, South Jakarta, Monday, (21/10 ).
2. Non-horror films from the last 6 years
In the past few years, Joko Anwar has been very diligent in working on horror genre films. Starting from Servant of Satan (2017), then Women in the Land of Hell (2019), Servant of Satan 2 (2022), and Siksa Kubur (2024). The last time Joko directed a non-horror film was Gundala (2019). This is his first no-horror film in six years. The Siege on Bukit Duri is an action-thriller genre.
3. Collaborate with Hollywood Studios
The siege on Bukit Duri was a collaboration between Joko Anwar, Tia Hasibuan and their production house, Come and See Pictures, with the Hollywood studio, Amazon MGM Studios. Amazon MGM Studios is an entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content.
Original series premiere on Prime Video, while original films are produced and acquired by the studio for theatrical release and exclusive to Prime Video. Amazon MGM Studios also produces content for MGM+, a premium pay television network, and Freevee, Amazon’s premium free streaming service.
MGM itself was acquired by Amazon in March 2022, with a deal value of $8.5 billion.
4. Second film produced by Come and See Pictures
After the success of Siksa Kubur which was lined up as Come and See Pictures’ debut film, Pengepungan di Bukit Duri became their second feature film. Siksa Kubur successfully received 4 million viewers when it was broadcast during Eid this year, and managed to get 17 nominations. In fact, Come and See Pictures has been producing films since Pengabdi Satan 2, but at that time the film was still under the banner of the Rapi Films production house.
5. Dominated by Young Actors
This film stars Morgan Oey and Hana Malasan. Meanwhile, the rest of the actors are dominated by the younger generation. They are Omara Esteghlal, Endy Arfian, Fatih Unru, Satine Zaneta, Dewa Dayana, Florian Rutters, Faris Fadjar Munggaran, Sandy Pradana, Farandika, Raihan Khan, Sheila Kusnadi, Millo Taslim, and Bima Azriel.
6. First film with teenage characters
Siege on Bukit Duri is Joko Anwar’s first film with teenage characters. Follows the story of the teenage students of Duri High School, a school filled with problematic students. This film will also show scenes of violence, but Joko emphasized that he would not glorify them.
“In this film, I always felt that being a teenager really determines what kind of nation the next generation will be. It’s really like an empty glass, which will be filled with something later. “The roots of Indonesia’s future will be bleaker or brighter, towards a golden or anxious generation, depending on how adults treat teenagers,” said Joko Anwar.
Are teenagers really problematic or do their roots lie in adults? In other words, do the people’s problems stem from the authorities?” Joko Anwar continued.
7. First collaboration between Joko Anwar and Morgan Oey
Even though they both have long careers in the film industry, this is the first time director Joko Anwar and actor Morgan Oey have worked together. Morgan plays Edwin, the main character in this film. A high school substitute teacher who often changes schools to find someone.
8. 4 Month Actor Auditions and Involve Dozens of Actors for One Character
According to Joko Anwar, this film required the longest casting process compared to previous films. At least, Joko took four months just for casting. Meanwhile, for one character, casting was carried out with more than 20 actors.
“Because the character is difficult, this is a teenager. So far the films we have produced are films with adult characters, rarely have teenage characters. One of the challenges there was, because I had never filmed with teenagers. “So the homework is double to gather the cast,” explained the producer of Siege on Bukit Duri, Tia Hasibuan.
9. The Meaning of Thorns in the Title Siege at Thorn Hill
The word duri in the title of the film Siege on Duri Hill is figurative. Joko Anwar explained that thorns have two functions.
“For example, the thorns that plants have, whether in the form of plants or their fruit. One as a protector, another as a guard. So it describes what the situation is like for these children at Duri High School. Are they considered as painful as thorns or even as protectors for society. “So there is a figurative meaning,” explained Joko Anwar.
10. School Set Built for 2 Months in Bandung
The high school in this film was built from scratch. Initially, the building was a warehouse and empty land. The location for the Duri High School set in this film was found in Bandung, with the set in the film being in Jakarta. To build it, the crew took two months.
11. Set in Indonesia in 2027
The film Siege on Bukit Duri is set in Indonesia in 2027, or three years from now.
“The most difficult thing is to visualize the country in 2027 in this film, which is different from Indonesia now. “This film depicts the worst possibility that could and might not happen,” said Joko Anwar. (M-4)
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