Semesta Mendukung

Semesta Mendukung (The Universe Supports), often abbreviated Mestakung, is a 2011 Indonesian children's film directed by John de Rantau. It follows a young Madurese boy as he searches for his mother through the International Physics Olympiad.

Semesta Mendukung
Promotional poster
Directed by	John De Rantau
Produced by	Putut Widjanarko
Written by	Hendrawan Wahyudianto John De Rantau
Starring	Revalina S. Temat Lukman Sardi Helmalia Putri Indro Sujiwo Tejo Dinda Hauw Sayef Muhammad Billah Angga Putra Rendy Ahmad
Distributed by	Mizan Productions & Falcon Pictures
Release date	20 October 2011
Running time	101 minutes
Country	Indonesia
Language	Indonesian

Plot

Muhammad Arief (Sayef Muhammad Billah), the son of poor family in Sumenep, Madura Island, greatly enjoys science, especially physics. His father, Muslat (Lukman Sardi), is a former salt farmer who became a driver after an economic downturn. His mother, Salmah (Helmalia Putri), has gone abroad in search of work; the family have not heard from her, and Arief misses her. Although it is difficult due to his economic situation, Arief studies physics diligently.

Arief's physics teacher Tari Hayat (Revalina S. Temat), seeing potential in him after Arief retrieves a ball from a tree with a rocket, suggests that he participate in the International Physics Olympiad in Singapore. Arief agrees, but his main goal is to find his mother. After the selection process in Jakarta, Arief goes to the Olympiad with fellow would-be-physicists Muhammad Thamrin (Angga Putra) and Clara Annabela (Dinda Hauw).

After arriving in Singapore, the Indonesian team wins several matches. However, just before the finals Arief discovers that his mother is to leave for Malaysia. Although at first he decides to rush to the port to stop her, he is convinced to stay with the Olympiad team, who win the competition. Arief then stops his mother from going to Malaysia, and the two return to Madura.

Production

Mestakung was directed by John de Rantau, best known for the Academy Award-submitted Denias Senandung Di Atas Awan (Denias, Singing on the Cloud; 2006) and Obama Anak Menteng (Obama, Child of Menteng(2009).[1][2] It was written by Hendrawan Wahyudianto and de Rantau; production was handled by Mizan Production and Falcon Picture, with Putut Widjanarko serving as producer.[1]

Mestakung's title was derived the philosophy of physicist Yohanes Surya, who had trained Indonesia's International Physics Olympiad team; Surya taught that, when a person needed to succeed at his or her goals, the universe would work to support person. He called this semesta mendukung, which means the universe supports.[1] The events in the film are based on a true story, which occurred to the 2006 Indonesian Physics Olympiad team.[3]

Numerous Indonesian actors were chosen for roles, including Laura Basuki, who had won a Citra Award at the 2010 Indonesian Film Festival.[4] Surya had a cameo in the film.[5] Shooting took place over three weeks in Madura and Singapore.[6]

Mestakung's soundtrack was mostly handled by the Indonesian band Goliath. Initially asked to record a single song, the band recorded three within a month, which were accepted by the film's producers.[7] However, a traditional Madurese song was included, as was the song "Indonesia", as sung by Powerslaves.[5]

Release and reception

Mestakung, initially scheduled for an August release,[3] premiered on 18 October 2011 at XXI Gandaria City, South Jakarta;[8] wide release followed on 20 October.[5] Triwik Kurniasari, writing for The Jakarta Post, wrote that the film had inspirational ideas but suffered due to poor acting by Billah.[1]

References

Footnotes

1. Kurniasari 2011, In a boy’s dream.
2. Koehler 2007, Foreign-language contenders.
3. Suryanto 2011, Mestakung, Perjuangan Meraih.
4. Suhendra and Sofyan 2011, "Mestakung", Pelajaran dari.
5. Armandhanu and Rachmawati 2011, "Mestakung", Film Terbaru.
6. Antara 2011, Film "Mestakung": Nasionalisme.
7. KapanLagi.com 2011, "Mestakung", Arti Mestakung Bagi.
8. Kurniawan 2011, Ribuan Undangan Serbu.

Bibliography

• Armandhanu, Denny; Rachmawati, Gestina (20 October 2011). ""Mestakung", Film Terbaru John De Rantau" ["Mestakung", John de Rantau's Latest Film]. Viva News (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
• "Arti Mestakung Bagi Goliath" [Meaning of Mestakung for Goliath]. KapanLagi.com (in Indonesian). 15 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
• "Film "Mestakung": Nasionalisme ala Fisikawan Muda" ["Mestakung" Film: Nationalism ala Young Physicists]. Antara West Java (in Indonesian). 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
• Kurniasari, Triwik (23 October 2011). "In a boy's dream". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
• Kurniawan, Fakhmi (18 October 2011). "Ribuan Undangan Serbu Premiere 'Mestakung'" [Thousands of invitees Swarm the Premiere of 'Mestakung']. Detik.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
• Koehler, Robert (7 December 2007). "Foreign-language contenders". Variety. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
• Suhendra, Ichsan; Sofyan, Eko Hendrawan (19 October 2011). ""Mestakung", Pelajaran dari Bocah Asal Pamekasan" ["Mestakung", Lessons from a Boy From Pamekasan]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
• Suryanto, Iman (12 May 2011). "Mestakung, Perjuangan Meraih Cita-Cita sang Peraih Olimpiade" [Mestakung, The Fight to Realise an Olympiad Winner's Dreams]. Tribun (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.

External links

• Semesta Mendukung at IMDb