3 Reasons Why You Should Watch “Tiga Dara”

(Disclaimer: may contains some minor spoilers. Come at your own risk).

I’m not a movie freak nor a cinephile, but when the movie is my cup of tea and the time is right I’ll spent my time to cinema. In my opinion (as a casual moviegoer), Indonesia’s film industry has really a bright outlook this year that many of them became an immediate box-office hit and even some of them surpassed the Hollywood movies in terms of the number of spectators (like “AADC2” exceeded “Captain America: Civil War” and “My Stupid Boss” beat “X-Men: Apocalypse”).

Restored “Tiga Dara” now on cinemas in 4K! (courtesy: S.A. Films)

“Tiga Dara” was released in 1956 and I’m sure most of our parents hadn’t been born yet. It immediately became the blockbuster in any top-class cinemas in Indonesia at that time and even being screened in Venice Film Festival in 1959. The fact that it’s being physically restored in L’Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna, and digitally restored in Indonesia in 4K (4K! For God’s sake!) really draw my attention, and after I watched it I must admit that this surely will won not only the elder’s heart but also the millennial generations’.

So, why you should watch “Tiga Dara”?

If you need a good reason to watch “Tiga Dara” and be fan right away, take a look at these 3 below:

(1) The story

Although it was released in 1956, surprisingly the story is still relevant until 6 decades later in 2016! I was thinking that this will be a boring film as this was my first experience to watch movie not in color version, but what I’ve watched totally exceeded my expectations.

Three sisters (L/R): Neni (Indriati Iskak), Nunung (Chitra Dewi), and Nana (Mieke Wijaya) strike a pose in a scene from “Tiga Dara” (courtesy: SA Films)

The film is about three sisters with different personalities, living together with their father and their grandmother. Nunung as the eldest is forced by her grandmother to get married as she’ll turn 30 next year, but Nana (as the middle child who’s easy to socialize with people) eventually fell in love with the same person as Nunung at the same time while Neni and their father are trying to fix this problem.

The tradition of matchmaking attempts is still often done by family till date as long as the “when will you get married?” q’s still be heard by those who are considered old enough to get married (but in fact don’t, sigh).

(2) The beauties

We do love all vintage things, don’t we? (courtesy: SA Films)

Who can resist the beauty of Indonesia’s women? The vintage style is simply special comparing to the modern looks nowadays. Oh, and try to identify buildings and places as you’ll amazed at how beauty Jakarta looked at that time.

3. The music scores

VA – Aransemen Ulang Lagu Orisinil dari Film Tiga Dara (courtesy: Mardyana Ulva / pesona.co.id)

Influenced by the theatrical style of the Hollywood movies at that time, I was fascinated by how well the actors’ and the actresses’ singing capability. The songs are really ear-catching, very melodious and some are truly memorable. My favorites are “Tiga Dara” (by Bonita, Aimee Saras, and Aprilia Apsari) and “Pilih Menantu” (by Danilla Riyadi and Indra Aziz).

You can easily listen to this album via Spotify or buy the physical album for 50k Rupiahs.

It is really a good movies, no wonder it became blockbuster at that time. Every characters on the film are not outshining the others, their performance is superb and the chemistry is really strong. The whole studios were giving applause and some even gave a standing ovation right after the movie ended.

“Tiga Dara” surely a timeless masterpiece and no wonder it won the heart not only for the elder generations, but also my generation as well and hope so many generation to come.