Asian Shadows has acquired international sales rights to “This City Is A Battlefield” (Perang Kota) the upcoming neoclassical war drama from Indonesian director Mouly Surya that will serve as the closing night film at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Set in 1946 Jakarta during Indonesia’s struggle for independence, the film follows Isa (Chicco Jerikho), a former war hero turned violin teacher who becomes entangled in the resistance movement alongside his wealthy student Hazil (Jerome Kurnia). When Isa is tasked with an underground mission to assassinate a Dutch official, complications arise as Hazil pursues not only the mission but also Isa’s wife Fatimah (Ariel Tatum), a talented pianist fighting to protect her family.
An Indonesia, Singapore, Netherlands, France, Norway, Philippines, Cambodia co-production, “This City Is a Battlefield” is produced by Rama Adi and Fauzan Zidni for Cinesurya, Chand Parwez Servia for Starvision, and Kaninga Pictures from Indonesia; in co- production with Giraffe Pictures from Singapore, Volya Films from The Netherlands, Shasha & Co. Production from France, DUOfilm AS from Norway, Epicmedia from The Philippines, and Kongchak Pictures Ltd. from Cambodia.
Executive producers include Willawati, Mona Surya and Rieza Jusuf, while the co-producers are Isabelle Glachant, Anthony Chen, Tan Si En, Denis Vaslin, Fleur Knopperts, Ingrid Lill Høgtun, Marie Fuglestein Lægreid, Linda Bolstad Strønen, Bianca Balbuena, Bradley Liew, Axel Hadiningrat and Loy Te.
Periscoop Film has secured theatrical distribution rights for The Netherlands and Benelux territories.
The film is Surya’s fifth feature and marks her second collaboration with Asian Shadows following “Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts,” which premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2017 and won 10 Citra Awards (Indonesian Oscars). Her most recent film was the Netflix action thriller “Trigger Warning” starring Jessica Alba.
“Excited to work again with Asian Shadows. From our close collaboration with them in ‘Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts,’ Asian Shadows have a first-hand knowledge of my voice and how to extend that voice to be heard beyond,” Surya said.
“We are proud to continue working with Mouly Surya and the Cinesurya team to bring ‘Perang Jota’ to the attention of international audiences. Once again, we were struck by the strength of Mouly Surya’s style and vision in exploring the meaning of identity, the value of freedom and the power of independence, challenging stereotypes of genders and heroes. In times of wars we live in, digging into the past to make sense of the present, Mouly Surya breaks the rules of a cinema genre to reinvent it, so identity and dignity are just shaped by what one stands for and what one fights for. We are delighted to be by her side once again,” added Maria A. Ruggieri, head of sales and acquisitions at Asian Shadows.
International Film Festival Rotterdam takes place Jan. 30 – Feb. 9.
