Indonesian filmmaker Kamila Andini returns to the Toronto Film Festival for the third time with her fifth feature, “Four Seasons in Java.” The film marks a significant milestone in the director’s career, following her previous festival selections “The Seen and the Unseen” (2017) and “Yuni” (2021), which earned the Platform Prize and served as Indonesia’s Academy Award submission. The new project reunites Andini with actress Putri Marino, who previously collaborated with the director on the Netflix film “Cigarette Girl.”
The film centers on Pertiwi, a woman portrayed by Marino who returns to her hometown after spending two decades imprisoned for killing a man in self-defense during an attempted sexual assault. Unlike her previous works, Andini describes “Four Seasons in Java” as her most emotionally charged film to date. During the creative process, the director discovered unexpected depths of anger within herself, channeling these intense feelings into her screenplay. She views this emotional intensity as both the film’s driving force and a liberating creative outlet.
Preparation for the role proved demanding, with Marino undergoing extensive character workshops and training. The actress learned horseback riding, electrical handling, and combat skills to authentically portray her character. Set in a Western-inspired fictional town, the production required meticulous attention to visual storytelling. Andini collaborated with costume designer Hagai Pakan to ensure each character possessed a distinct appearance, recognizing that visual differentiation matters for international audiences unfamiliar with Asian cinema.
“Four Seasons in Java” will premiere at Toronto before returning to Indonesia on October 8 and subsequently screening at the Busan International Film Festival. The film notably features no shortened festival cut, allowing international audiences to experience the full ensemble and communal richness of Indonesian society.
Originally reported by Variety →
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