Sinung Winahyoko was born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on March 21, 1984. After graduating from the Indonesian Communication Academy in Yogyakarta, he started his career in early 2007 as a documentary filmmaker, working on behind-the-scenes productions. In 2010, he began directing short films and TV commercials. His 2017 short “Madonna” won the Sonje Award at BIFF. His latest short, “Hen,” is currently screening at Busan Shorts.
Hen is screening at Busan International Short Film Festival (BISFF)
The short begins in frantic fashion, with a woman, Maria, clearly in panic, running from something, and the tracking camera capturing her closely as she moves away, constantly looking back. The next scene takes place in a chicken shop, where the same woman is shown placing drugs inside the chickens she sells. The young man who buys “the product,” however, seems to be short on money, and soon a fight breaks out, although it is resolved rather quickly. A younger girl, Rara, witnesses the entire scene.
The following sequence shows Maria in panic once more, rushing into her house with Rara and counting the money she has stashed. Soon, there is a knock on the door and two angry men enter, accusing her husband of giving one of their brother’s names to the police. One of them refers to himself as Uncle Gundul, while the other seems deeply concerned for his brother, who is already imprisoned. Eventually, the two men decide to take the girl with them, leaving Maria in despair.
The commentary about the extremes people reach in their poverty is palpable, with Winahyoko taking it a step further by presenting two desperate individuals clashing against each other. It is essentially this aspect that provides the narrative foundation of the short, further highlighting the impact such events have on youths, in a situation that could easily be described as a dead end.
The combination of DP Saiful Bahri’s handheld camera, tracking shots, and the fast pace implemented by editors Sinung Winahyoko and Mamad Anggoro, imbues the movie with a sense of tension that works particularly well, carrying the story throughout its 12-minute runtime. The style is strongly reminiscent of Brillante Mendoza‘s work, especially due to the documentary-like realism in the presentation of the city and its people. The same applies to the events at the end, whose appalling nature is communicated through sound design and the reaction of the terrified girl, in an aspect that shifts the movie from thriller territory into something close to horror. The parallel between the girl and the hen further cements the intelligence of the direction in impressive fashion.
Mariana Resli, in the role of Maria, is outstanding in the way she communicates panic and urgency, with fear emanating from every move and gaze. Kiki Narendra, portraying the villain, is equally strong, presenting an intense character with gusto while maintaining a sense of restraint. Lastly, Auriella Hanum Melati as Rara communicates her fear in the most eloquent fashion, even without words.
“Hen” is a remarkable short, boasting excellent direction, acting, and production values, in what emerges as a true gem.
