Director Nia Dinata talks about her career in the Indonesian film industry and her conscious decision to tackle issues considered controversial.
Nia Dinata is one of Indonesia's most influential female directors. She's widely recognised for films such as Arisan! and Berbagi Suami (Love for Share), which often address social issues in bold ways.
Speaking with SBS Indonesian, she shared the story of her career from its beginnings to her views on freedom of expression in filmmaking.
Dinata said her love of film had grown since childhood. She was passionate about watching films from a young age and went on to take filmmaking courses at New York University, she said.
Starting Out in Music Videos and Commercials
On returning to Indonesia in the 1990s, Dinata said she found the local film industry in a slump. Cinemas were dominated by Hollywood films, while Indonesian films were only released every few years, she said.
For Dinata, filmmaking is a craft that must be constantly honed, and she worried her skills would fade if she did not keep working. Because of this, Dinata said, she began her career making music videos and television commercials as a way to keep practising the filmmaking skills she had learnt at university.
From there, Dinata went on to direct her first feature film, Ca-bau-kan, in 2002, followed by Arisan! and Berbagi Suami, she added.
A Conscious Choice to Tackle Sensitive Issues
Some of Dinata's films may be considered controversial by certain audiences in Indonesia. Dinata said the decision to tackle topics that may be seen as controversial in her films was a conscious one, as she grew up in a family that embraced differences, she said.
Dinata said she was taken aback to see parts of society outside her home environment judging those who were different, and that experience drove her to always write her own screenplays.
When asked whether her work was a form of activism, Dinata said she was not concerned with labels. What matters most, Dinata said, is that her work is a form of freedom of expression.
Saya selalu dengan sadar menulis sendiri skenario film. Saya nggak pernah bikin film yang skenarionya tidak saya tulis sendiri.Nia Dinata - Sutradara
Experience as a Female Director
The number of female directors in Indonesia remains small, Dinata said, but she hadn't encountered significant barriers throughout her career. She said she felt fortunate to have always worked with teams that showed respect and a sense of solidarity.
Dinata said she always kept her team small and worked with people she knew she was compatible with.
Listen to the full interview on the SBS Indonesian podcast.
