This film which had its world premiere at the 19th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival late last year is a fine example of the great creative potential of Indonesian filmmaking, a potential that could often observed at the festival mentioned. The young director Haris Yuliyanto comes from the Javanese port city of Semarang. This probably explains why all of his previous short films have a a decidedly maritime theme. “Anchoring” (2020) for example was about a young seaman who is being hit by various problems related to his rights as a worker in a private shipping company. “Fish, Please!” now seems like an extension of the theme into the mythological.
“Fish, Please” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Rozaq (Slamet Irfan), who works at the port, is in a desperate situation. His wife Sasa (Kartikawati) is pregnant, but not in good condition. The doctor who is called diagnoses that the patient is lacking protein and that she urgently needs to eat fish. Rozaq, who does not want their baby to develop poorly, is certain that he must get fish, under all circumstances. But that is not as easy as it sounds, because the fish company at the port has resorted to drastic measures after repeated thefts. Police officers monitor the area and are happy to use electric tasers when they spot a suspect. The most extreme means of deterring thieves, however, is a mysterious gas. When he is exposed to it, a strange transformation takes place in Rozaq.
In his 20-minute film, Haris Yuliyanto condenses elements from various genres, from social drama to fantasy and horror, into a successful mixture. The nighttime green-and-blue images by director of photography Saka Guna Wijaya provide the appropriate atmosphere, and Slamet Irfan offers an intense portrayal of a desperate man at the bottom of the social spectrum.
“Fish, Please!” is a showcase of the talent of a young filmmaker whose future path will definitely be worth watching.
