Review : What They Don't Talk About When They Talk About Love

Directed by              Mouly Surya

Script Writer            Mouly Surya

Cast                           Karina Salim, Nicholas Saputra, Ayushita, Lupita

Producers                 Rama Adi, John Badalu, Tia Hasibuan, Faizan Zidni

Original Music by   Zeke Khaseli

Film Editing by         Kelvin Nugroho

Art Direction by       Rita Yossy

Cinematography by Yunus Pasolang

I feel like an anti-mainstream movie freaker, instead of watching the Iron Man 3, I choosed to watch '' What They Don't Talk About When They Talk About Love'' (phiuhh, it can be shortened as ''Don't Talk Love''), an Indonesian film by Mouly Surya. Mouly Surya is one of my favourite director since I watched her previous film, ''Fiksi''. "Fiksi" shows me that Mouly has great talent in telling a story. Now, I'm more sure about that, ''Don't Talk Love'' proves it.

''Don't Talk Love'' is about the life of disabled teenagers who fall in love to each other. It focuses on Diana (Karina Salim) is a low-vision teenage girl and Fitri (Ayushita) who has been blind since birth. As the story goes on, Diana falls in love with her schoolmate who is blind too,Andhika (Anggun), while Fitri gets in weird love relationship with Edo (Nicholas).

As I predicted before, ''Don't Talk Love'' goes on flat emotion like other kind of 'festival' films. It is almost dialog-less and so has many silence moments. It also has some long scences, make it perfect as a boring film. But like other kind of great 'festival' films too, those are powerful factors. It helps us to feel the nuance of loneliness and emptyness in life of disabled people. Maybe you will assume that this film exploits the affliction of disabled people and becoming a tear-jerker drama. That is absolutely wrong. Even I'm sure no tears come out from your eyes. That is not the purpose of this film, this film wants you to think.

''Don't Talk Love'' makes us think in different perspective about love. We may hear the term 'love at first sight', but how could be it applied on blind people? Can we fall in love just by ear or touch? Is love caused by complete sense?

''Don't Talk Love'' redefines the meaning of love. It tries to show the universality of love. But it doesn't intend to tell the audience directly, it lets people conclude themselves.

Some part of the plotline may confuse you. It is like a wrong paragraph. But, conversely, it becomes the core of the story.

I also think some messages spread over through visually, not by words. So, we need to open widely our mind to guess big messages behind simple actions.

I appreciate the great performance of Ayushita. Honestly I underestimated her before, but now I respect her as talented actress.Karina and Nico did quite good job too.

I love the beautiful score here, and some tricky shots ( I wonder how the camera moved in a certain scene). Little surprised by vulgarities on it (it's rare in Indonesian films) :D.

So, if you are an average viewer (no offense :P), I strongly do not recommend this to you. But if you are a 'nerd' movie freak, this gives you great challenge.

Don't Talk Love : 8,5/10