Two brothers become separated when Southeast Asia submerges. Both struggling to survive as immigrants in a foreign country, the two finally unite, but under grim circumstances.
“Dekaden” plays out as a long nightmarish sequence free of any dialogue. However, through newspaper articles washed ashore and photos, cherished by the protagonists, a story of loss and regret is still established with emotionally devastating success. Overall, the visuals, audio and abstract narrative combine to create a short film that elicits a strong visceral reaction of loss and horror. This is accomplished through the strong direction of Adam Taufiq Suharto, but also shows his ability to work with a crew to create a stunning and tragic vision.
Perhaps the most noticeable and prominent collaboration is with Eirsyad Qawiem, who provides the original score. Opening on a relaxing ambient tone, the soundtrack gradually transforms into a harsh and unsettling noise that punctuates the violence and horror being inflicted. It is a vastly upsetting score whose brilliant composition could stand on its own outside of the film. The cinematography, which is hard to attribute to just one member with various elements excelling, floats in an ethereal fashion, which would beautiful if not for the contrasted violence. The approach to capturing the violence fits well within the film as well, aiming to capture the raw emotions instead of trying to shock through graphic imagery. Overall, various elements fuse together to create a unique, dreamlike, vision of terror.
‘Dekaden” may not be Adam Suharto's strongest short film, with the narrative strength in such works of “Belas” and “Gelora” offering a deeper reflection on societal issues. What the production does offer though, is an ideal mix of visual, soundscape and direction to create an unforgettable nightmarish scenario that will haunt the viewers. It is a perfect amalgamation of audio and visual to assault the senses and create unease, a great experience worth checking out.
