Image of Jakarta

Part One of Thoughts After "A Copy of My Mind"

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Who expects that watching a movie on Saturday night could lead to some thoughtful contemplation? At that time, it was a fine Saturday night, the perfect time to unwind from yesterday’s problems. I have waited quite a long time for an opportunity to watch Joko Anwar’s work titled A Copy of My Mind. The movie itself is actually a romance with a generous sprinkling of thriller and politics. After the credit scene rolled in, much of what lingers in my mind is the movie’s portrayal of Jakarta and how its characters act as a reflection of the people there. In this part, I will focus on the first one and the second in the next part. Both the protagonists, named Sari and Alek, lived in this city and the movie took place entirely there. Jakarta, without no doubt, is a special place for me, I was born and have lived here for the most of my life. I personally liked how A Copy of My Mind is far from being a failure when it depicts Jakarta as from my perspective living there. The true-to-life depiction was underpinned mainly by its sharply detailed scenes. The film is able to capture the city’s paradoxical nature in an ingenuous yet picturesque manner.

In here, I won’t delve deep into the story in order to make it more palpable to anyone who haven’t watched it. I doubt that you won’t get any spoilers, but I try to conceal the storyline as much as I can. In case you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend the movie to anyone above 17, from romance movie goers to people who have a special interest towards Jakarta.

A Copy of My Mind is filmed in a way that the scenes are not just bound to display the action which is happening, but also projecting the image of Jakarta. Throughout the film, the frames and sounds are able to capture the condition of Jakarta vividly. While watching, one could feel like exploring the tumultuous streets filled with supporters campaigning for the upcoming election. The loud speakers pealing the rallies even during the sun-bathed afternoon. As the characters went away from the centers of political activity, along with the camera, the typical situation of Jakarta comes to life. The inescapable heat, coupled with dusty air in the streets is clearly visible in the characters’ sweat. Jakarta’s narrow alleys with buildings packed in the sides giving little to no room for greenery. Every space teeming with people around, with the exception of the port warehouse. In a few scenes, roads are packed with vehicles yet in others it looks like a sleepy town.

A few scenes draw much from the city’s staggering inequality, as the wide gap between the rich and poor is visualized along the film. This city is home to more than ten million, it is clearly impossible for Jakarta to get away from the accompanying urban problems and wealth disparity. As seen in the film, the luxurious hotel-like cell for Mirna is an evidence of how the city and the government treats the upper echelon. Meanwhile Sari and Alek thread their life in decaying structures. From the wide and orderly Sudirman Avenue to the neglected roads around both the protagonist’s home, signs of disparity is evident in much locations. A little detail which I noticed was noise from the surroundings quickly disappeared when the film traverse to wealthier places.

Nevertheless, there is more of Jakarta than its endless issues. At a glimpse, it may seem this place should be avoided at all cost, but from what I saw in the film and experience it myself, Jakarta has its own charm. Imperceptible at first, but eventually Jakarta starts showing its alluring soul. The skyscrapers towering in the background of Sari’s place is a rough manifestation of the city offering boundless opportunities.

A Copy of My Mind is able to give a glimpse of many sides of the city’s complicated realities. Its visuals are testament of the city being a place with overflowing problems, yet full of soul. Even though it’s almost impossible to completely covers the city, the film’s humble take on Jakarta has given a limited but rich portraiture of the capital. Furthermore, it prompted my mind, personally, to inquire into Jakarta’s interlaced aspects.

is available on Netflix.