The Earth Man, the first novel from Buru Island's Tetralogy by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, will be lifted to the silver screen. The film was directed by Hanung Bramantyo, screenplay script by Salman Aristo, and produced Falcon Picture.
It has just become news and the movie has not been created has caused a national noise. Many people seem unwilling Pramoedya's masterpiece was directed by Hanung. Moreover, the main character in Human Earth, namely Minke, played by Iqbaal Ramadan whose name bounced after playing the film Dilan 1990.
Hanung indeed made several historical films, such as Sang Pencerah (KH Ahmad Dahlan, 2010), Soekarno (2013), and RA Kartini (2016). However, his works are reaping criticism, even his latest film, Benyamin Biang Kerok, protested by Betawi people. His other films also sparked controversy. However, Hanung did not deter.
According to tempo.co's report, Hanung's intention to film Human Earth was delivered directly to Pramoedya, but was rejected. Pramoedya also rejected the request of director Oliver Stone. Opportunity came in 2008 after Hanung completed the movie Ayat-ayat Cinta. A friend, unnamed, offered him a film on the Earth. However, Salman Aristo has not dared to write the script.
Finally, in 2018, Hanung officially announces it will film the Human Earth. Salman Aristo was able to write his script because he claimed to almost read all of Pramoedya's works. In addition to Hanung, there are two directors who intend to film the Human Earth, but fail.
Previously, Hanung has included Human Earth in his film, Women Berkalung Sorban (2009), which was lifted from a novel by Abidah El Khalieqy.
In Identity and Enjoyment, Ariel Heriyanto calls Women Berkalung Sorban a hard criticism of the darker sides of patriarchy that is still going on within the Muslim community in Indonesia. In this film, almost all Muslim men belong to polygamy, selfish, irrational, petty, intolerant, corrupt, and violent oppressors.
Critics also interpret the lack of a man who can be a role model in the film as a deliberate attack on Muslim leaders and therefore against Islam itself, rather than a general attack on patriarchy.
"The most painful of all, the victimized female characters got enlightenment and the way out of the Human Earth novel," Ariel writes.
Thus, according to Ariel, Women Berkalung Sorban is the first long cinema movie featuring Human Earth on the big screen to the Indonesian audience. The novel appears in at least five scenes, including when the main character reads and carries it. There was also one scene, which was not in his novel, which depicted a number of male teachers in the pesantren confiscating Pramoedya's books and burning them along with other books considered dangerous.
The fact is that Pramoedya and his novels are considered dangerous by the New Order regime so they are banned and burned. Those who own and discuss them are arrested and detained. On 31 October 1981, the Attorney General's Office denied burning 10,000 Human Earth copies and the follow-up, Son of All Nations, but claimed to have burned 972 copies.
According to Ariel, the people who criticized the film denied it by saying the scenes of burning the book were unrealistic and displaying unfair stereotypes towards Muslims. According to them, it's ridiculous people in pesantren no one will burn the book.
Now, Hanung is proud to announce that he will film the Human Earth he has dreamed of for a long time. Will the movie later also be criticized? Hanung is familiar with it.
Read More here