We are beholden to Rianto, a choreographer, who is now living in Tokyo, for the willingness to share his life story to be adapted.Jakarta (ANTARA) - "Memories of My Body," or "Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku," directed by Garin Nugroho bagged the Citra Award for Best Film at the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) 2019 in Jakarta, Sunday, December 8.
The movie won the award after beating other most popular Indonesian movies in 2019 in the category: "27 Steps of May", "Bumi Manusia", "Dua Garis Biru", and "Keluarga Cemara".
It brings to light the story of Juno, a performer of Lengger Dance, a cross-gender dance form in which male dancers dress up as women. Juno lives in a small village of Java and in pursuit of his true self.
Juno's story was inspired by a true life story of Rianto, a dancer and choreographer, who took his role at the movies as the grown-up Juno.
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"We are beholden to Rianto, a choreographer, who is now living in Tokyo, for the willingness to share his life story to be adapted into a film," Ifa Ifansyah, the film's producer, noted in the acceptance speech.
Apart from winning the Best Film title, the main actor Muhammad Khan, who played Juno in "Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku" and its director, Garin Nugroho, bagged awards as the best actor and best director.
It is the first Citra Award for Nugroho after his 38-year stint as film director.
"Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku" swept eight Citra Awards of this 2019 Indonesia's most prominent film award after being banned in several cities owing to its gay-themed story. Nonetheless, this outstanding movie has been selected as Indonesia’s submission for the 2020 Oscars.
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Translator: Nanien Yuniar, Suwanti
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
