A young girl retreats to her room after an argument with her parents over her dance routine. As the girl begins to practice her dance, she is transported into the woods where she meets a musician who questions her love of her craft. After a brief confrontation with the mysterious man, the titular character Ukek must look inward to find inspiration to continue her art.
“Ukek” works best as a visual showcase for director M. Abdillah Farhan. The film's visuals are vibrant, which are well complimented by sharp editing and great camera work. This is most notable in the scenes that focus on the young woman dancing. The film does well to capture the poetic nature of dance. The music is well chosen and only heightens the atmosphere. The visuals are not always perfect though, with some inconsistency in lighting, and a few shots that felt like the camera was a bit unsteady. However, the film's visuals still shine through and create a strong atmosphere that leaves a strong lasting effect.
The story of Ukek has a nice familiarity that will pique audience's interest. The film plays as a coming of age story, told through a fantasy narrative, utilizing a fantasy world which metaphorically handles the transition from something childish, to a more adult view point. It is the kind of story that is familiar across cultures and artistic mediums. Although the production easily draws comparisons to many classic stories, it would be better served as a scene within a larger production. Unfortunately, the production packs a broader concept into a run-time that does compliment the message it is trying to get across. However, the story of “Ukek” does leave a positive impression, by leaving a desire to see a concept fully realized, instead of feeling let down by what is featured.
The short film format can allow for a certain amount of freedom of storytelling, but can also limit broader ideas, and “UKEK” is a good example of the later. However, the production succeeds in creating a strong poetic atmosphere through exemplary visuals. The film's visuals alone are enough to make “Ukek” a rewarding experience, whose strengths will hopefully push M. Abdillah Farhan into a larger production.
