Two Sides On Rectoverso

Written By : Riri Oktriani

Book Identity
Title : Rectoverso
Author : Dewi “Dee” Lestari
Publisher : Good Faith Production
Printed : Fourth in January 2009
Pages : 154 + xviii

Just open page 14. There’s a mother lying on the grass with her son. Staring the stars in silence. She doesn’t need to talk to know what her son thinking and feeling about. Because, she’s already know about her son. This is a short story that will make you feel a deeper mother’s love to her son.

Facing autisism son isn’t easy thing. With all of routine that have to face day by day, so the changes—just a little—become fatal. “Change the routine is same thing like persuade the earth to stop around the sun,” Dee wrote. That boy, will always cutting the lawn, boiling the water, washing the clothes, and counting his one hundred soap collection. This is not just a routine. But becomes a ritual.

A mother’s love stronger and never faded. Never tired facing her son. More over, when her son fall in love with his younger brother’s girlfriend. She knew that her son impossible to get that love, or the woman also impossible to accept that love because she has already decide to choose his brother. But their mother believe, that her love is really true, and ready to test. This story covered in a title “Malaikat Juga Tahu”.

Or just read “Firasat”. In this story, you will invite to understand that in live we have to learn to accept what has been written down for us. It doesn’t mean we just surrender. But, with that, we learn to understand and accept ourself . “When we learn to accept, we also learn to peace. With intuition we learn to accept ourself, and peace with our live,” says a guy in this story.

And find the another uniques kind of the characters and plot story which arranged by Dee in “Hanya Isyarat”. In this story, a mysterious guy—no name—unpurpose get into a group that telling their most sad story. Within, there’s a two guy and a woman. “...who becomes the winner will get...this,” A whole beer drag into center of the table. Dee wrote.

And guess what, when the mysterious guy tell his story, he is the winner. With a simple story, but touching, really, unpredictable. That guy doesn’t need a beer. He’s only ask the woman to turn on back the disco light on the center of the cafe, so he can sit just like the first time. Just like when he keep his eye on that woman from a distance. Guessing the colors of her eyes ball. That’s enough to make him back to his pleasure. No need to talk, enough to being background.

However, this is unpredictable story. Their just interact with gestures and symbols. They don’t know each other, but they sharing something. And maybe they also got something that night.

Three of the eleven story in this book covered in “Rectoverso”. This book isn’t a novel, but, inside there’s many simple short story. And what make this book so different is analyzing of the story that expressed in interest and wonderful words. How the author, Dee, can make the analogy with good sentences. Also, Dee can appearing simplicity which hiding in each story that she create.

In this book, how Dee describe about the metaphore of each story is best thing. So, the plot story keep their own uniques with a strong characters. I call this “Rectoverso” just like in two sides, cause the real thing, the other side of this book there’s in an album with same title: Rectoverso. Showing 11 songs with same title on the 11 story in the book. But, you don’t have to worry. Only reading the story you can also get the meaning of those story. Just, complete the enjoyment when you reading the story with listening the music.

Happy reading!

Life Style, A Describe From “Ciwalk”

Text & Photo By: Riri Oktriani

Life is spinning, and life style won’t left away. Many habit that almost people do, have been their own life style. Start to consuming goods or some products, to the many activities that cover the society’s life which living in city.

The yard floor on Cihampelas Walk (Ciwalk) Mall in Bandung still wet. The trees that decorated around the mall’s street also still leave behind a drop of water that hanging on the leafes. The cleaning services busy enough to mop the first floor of mall’s enter door. And when I look around, this mall just quiet for a visitors.

That noon (22/01), rain falling almost Bandung city. When I went from my house in Gagak Street, drizzle appears with the cold wind blows. The weather of Bandung city often change extremely now. From morning, the sun feel so brightly shining. But when noon come, the sky suddenly cloudy. The sun which so bright, suddenly cover with black cloud.

Maybe this is cause Ciwalk not too much people to visit. I was went there with a two friends, and that day isn’t weekend. When entered Ciwalk, some people seen talking in little tends in around of J.CO Donuts & Coffee. And I start to take a picture.

Eventhough the air was cold enough, they seen comfort to talk. Maybe, that comfortable created because the warm form a cup of Coffee Latte or Cappucino which they drink. This is a part of society’s life style in modern time. Generally, in big city like Bandung, just talking or hang out in high class coffee shop like J.CO or Starbucks become some habit. Hang out being so important to “release” all of tired time after whole week activities.

Of course, every person have different way to calm their tired time. One of them, with visit mall with friends, partner and colleagues, or family. Ciwalk, can describe, how many people looking for entertaint or hang out place with visiting mall. No exception for two girls of Senior High School student that I catch their picture at that time. They still wearing white-grey uniform when walking behind the stores and restaurants in Ciwalk.

From the performance, Ciwalk designed with different style than other mall. It’s not only high building, but Ciwalk also giving different atmosphere with “green” decoration. Flowers and trees decorated around this mall. Not only that, structural of restaurant and stores also design attractively.

Out of the Ciwalk high building, line up the restaurants and stores which decorate just like café beside the street in foreign country. And between two side of line that stores, there’s little stands which selling so many things. Start from accessories until fancy plants. This perfect design added with Palm tree in the middle of the two side of stores. And a lot of flowers on pot hanging in the pillar of the building. Also, bench park arrange spread out in whole yard of Ciwalk.

Come close to night, me and my friends just fillin’ our stomach in one of the restaurant which cheap enough and also delicious in Ciwalk. In second floor, I had a chance to take a picture again. From there, I take the atmosphere of Ciwalk that still the same as when I arrive in noon.

And tonight is gonna be late. The air feel colder. But I’m not alone, because the jokes and talks with both of my friends can warming tonight. Not just like them who drink some delicious Coffee Latte or Cappucino.

I’m Just Living In The Air

Written By : Riri Oktriani and Risky C.H. Ondang

Film Identity
Title : Up In The Air
Year : 2009
Cast : George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman
Director : Jason Reitman

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), spend almost his life to be in the air just to make his living, and not by a purpose. His job is to firing people for a coward boss to afraid firing his own employees in company. So, he flew around the united states of america to firing people as his duty, travel many company to make his job done.

But, his pleasure to flew around, didn’t last long. Because a young ambitious women, who “rookie” in his company, Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) make a lay-off program that look like efficient to firing people by using advanced technology media by via livecam. This program make Ryan’s Bingham company in Omaha, Nebraska, can minimalize the outcome of the company.

Of course Ryan doesn’t agree. They make a complicated argue, involving their boss, Craig Gregory (Jason Bateman). On Craig’s decision, Natalie must become partner with Ryan Bingham to travel together and fire people, so Natalie can learn from Ryan Bingham about thing that she doesn’t know. So Natalie travel in the air with Ryan. Both of them, learn a lot of experience from their own perspective of life. Natalie has a great life with her boyfriend, feeling love, and also heart broken. It is differently with Ryan’s life who look so simply and live alone on his apartment. He also doens’t like make a commitment with other women he meet, and keeping distance with his own family.

On his way travelling, Ryan met a women name’s Alex (Vera Farmiga), a success women career who has same thought and life, seems not differently with Ryan. Quickly, they have a same view and thought untill they like each other and have a intimate relationship. But clearly they don’t even need a commitment for what they do.


After a lot of flying around with Ryan, Natalie resigned on the company. She felt guilty because on of the employee who was fired by her, death by suicidal. However, Ryan seems like having a new feeling about his life. Ryan, who also a motivation speeches, with his own slogan “what’s in your backpack ?”. In the end, he must admit that he also need someone else to fill his life. He crush on Alex. Unfortunately, Alex had a family.

During travel around with Natalie, Ryan had a thought to get back on the track. He also sent a recommendation letter to company, where Natalie trying to get a new job. So, life goes on, Ryan keep in the air, living his lonely life as usual. Nothing change, but both (Natalie and Ryan) perspective life, and meaningful.

In making decision, we think, we have to trust and believe what we decide and never hesitate. Even for all the risk and obstacles. After that, we can learn from decision we make. Also include with Ryan, dare to decide how he gonna track his life. Release his epic and dread of commitment.

On this film, we can see how charming George Clooney as Ryan Bingham. So with Anna Kendrick with her brilliant act on her role as Natalie Kendrick, a straightforward girl on this film. No wonder why she got a nomination for supporting cast with her talented act. The Director, Jason Reitman (who also director on “Juno” and “Thank You For Smoking”), got juice on this film, with his characteristic about direct and angle of this film. Simple, unusual but attractive to watch.

He also appraise on George Clooney, “If you’re going to make a movie about a guy who fires people for a living and you still want to like him that actor better be damn charming and I don’t think there’s a more charming actor a life than George Clooney. I was very lucky, he said yes.”

Never Dream to Become a Duchess

Written By : Riri Oktriani

Film Identity
Title : The Duchess
Year : 2008
Cast : Keira Knightly, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell
Director : Saul Dibb
Producers : Michael Kuhn, Gabriel Tana

The Duchess. Where’s Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightly), a noble’s wife, heir a kingdom of London—The Duke, sacrifice her whole life become a prisoner in her own home. The Duke of Devonshire, William (Raplh Fiennes), marrying Georgiana just for one purpose: in order get a son to continue his kingdom. But badly, Georgiana give him a daughter. William himself thought that this is a Georgiana’s failed as a wife because can’t give him a son.

Her husband have a relationship with Lady Elizabeth (Laura Stevely)—who was also a friend of Georgiana. Many years, Georgiana living in deep painfull. And in complicated condition she’s in love with a young politicus, Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper). As a wife of a Duke, Georgiana can’t do much, except, do William’s rules. She can’t ask her husband to leave Lady Elizabeth. Of course, because she have no power for that. She have to pretend as “Duchess”—a calling for The Duke’s wife—who support her husband and follow all of his rules. Mean a while, her relationship with Charles Grey is deeper than she realize.

William’s selfish as a controler of Georgiana’s life seeing when Georgiana had a baby boy—as he wish. He just don’t care about Georgiana’s feeling, eventhough he knew that Georgiana cheating with Charles Grey. He just thinking about getting a son. And Georgiana herself have no power to leaving her husband and live together with Charles because she have to hold on for her daugthers.

Lady Elizabeth know that Georgiana loves Charles. Than she help Georgiana to meet Charles quietly. No longer, William knew about that. Then he “punish” Georgiana. If she doesn’t come back to the kingdom, he will make every door closed for Charles. It means, no chance for Charles become Prime Minister. And Georgiana have no choice (again) except, follow the rules.

Until Georgiana pregnant—a baby from Charles—William send her to a village far from kingdom. He command Georgiana to take a birth there. And after that, the baby girl, will grown up by Charles’ family. It’s painfull.

After back to kingdom, her life just become as usual. Pretend that she’s okay, and nothing happen. Because the people in kingdom just knew that she went for travel for a years. But, that’s not real life. In the end, Georgiana give her blessed to Lady Elizabeth and her husband to get marry. She’s still living in palace with her daughters and Elizabeth’s sons. But, Lady Elizabeth keep helping Georgiana to see her daughters—in Charles’ family—queitly. Until her death, her life just like that. Become a prisoner in her own home.

This film setting in 18th century in London. At that time, I can see that women only use to get a son for the throne kingdom. And if they can do that, it means they fail to do their duty as a wife. But, now we know that man, actually make certain about that the baby is girl or boy. At that time, It’s just unfair for women. Because women supposed to appreciated for their loyality, efort, and persistence to the family.

And this film, can make men realize that they have to appreciated and no underestimate for women. Cause, glory of a men determined by a women—their wife. So, for you men, you need to think twice about it.

The Traitor

Review

Samir Horn (Don Cheadle) is an Arabic-speaking Sudanese-American and devout Muslim. His Sudanese Arab father was killed by a car bomb when he was a child. As an adult, Horn is first seen operating as an arms dealer. While negotiating a deal with Omar (Saïd Taghmaoui) in Yemen he is arrested and thrown into a Yemeni jail. Samir and Omar become friends in jail and when Omar's people arrange an escape, he takes Samir with them.

Joining the Islamic Brotherhood, Samir uses the skills he learned as an 18C engineer staff sergeant with the U.S. Army Special Forces to bomb the U.S. consulate in Nice, France. The group then devises a plot to place suicide bombers on 50 buses in the U.S. during Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, in London, the Islamic Brotherhood finds out Fareed is being targeted by the FBI and he escapes by a source in the FBI headquarters. It is revealed that Samir is working under deep cover for an intelligence contractor, Carter (Daniels), with the United States government against terrorism. The FBI agents pursuing him don't know this, and Carter is killed by Omar.

Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Roy Clayton (Pearce) pursues Samir through numerous countries, resulting in their final confrontation in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. While on board a cargo ship to Marseilles, France, Samir learns the identity of Nathir and kills Nathir, Fareed, and when Omar is about to kill him, he tells that he switched the bombers' emails and he placed them all on the same bus and all of them die. Canadian police, with the FBI, breaks in and kills Omar and injures Samir.

Later, under a Chicago El bridge, Samir tells Agent Clayton he feels guilty for killing the innocent people in the consulate. Samir tells Clayton that the Qu'ran says that to kill an innocent person is to kill all mankind. Clayton responds by noting that the Qu'ran also says that by saving an innocent person, you have saved all mankind, and tells Samir he is a hero. The movie ends with Samir praying at a mosque.

(wikipedia source)

This film idea based on Steve Martin, also an executive producer.

Generally this film contain about difference view from west culture and middle east culture about Islam.

The Most Important scene in this film, when Samir tell to FBI Agent Roy Clayton that from The Qur'an

“that to kill an innocent person is to kill all mankind”.

and then Roy Clayton says that from The Qur'an :

“by saving an innocent person, you have saved all mankind”

at the end, FBI Agent say goodbye to Samir with "Assalamualaikum" “ and Samir say "you should start to use that word from now”.
“Assalamualaikum”.

Perfume: The Story of A Murderer

Written By : Risky C.H. Ondang

A guy with name Jean-Baptise Grenouille (played by Ben Whisaw) born in a market fish. He is a orphan and born without scent of body. But, he has a sort of characteristic that nobody have, an extraordinary sharp smelling. He can separate and know about all every smell, from sharp smell, rocks, metal, and a scent from human body very perfecto.

In the beginning of story, this film begin with the voice of narrator (by John Hurt) with 15-20 minutes duration in this film. Setting in 18th century, a dirty town in france to describe about Jean’s Life.

Since he started to smell the scent of a fruitseller girl that he met in a crowd on market, he became obsessed to save a essence of human scent. So he started to learn and cook a parfume recipe from kind of oil and spices.

His intelligence in cook and collect parfumes bring him to the evil ambition; create the best parfume with virgin scent to kill girls. A serial killing about 25 virgin girls happens with so fast and without trace. They died so sadistic. The cloth, hair and scalp of the victim gone.
A body became so pale just like never live before.

Then it last a girl that became the last target from Jean, that she meant to be a ingredient to cook for his (Jean) perfume. At the end of the story, Jean used The perfect parfume and gives and unexpected effect. The parfume make a whole town addict to a sex party and became cannibal.

This story adopted from Best Seller novel by Patrick Sϋskind. A full comprehension from Ben Wishaw for Jean cast look so excellence. He success to perform an image of Dark character of Jean who cruel, cold, innocent, heartless and love. In a killing process, he look doesn’t have a guilty feeling for what he done. The most important thing for him is to get a perfect ingredient and spices to make a essence perfume of virgin scent.

The shooting proccess has success to imagin a dirty town/place in 18th century of France. There’s no blood and gore feature in this film, even this story telling about serial killing.
it all finish with the cold killing style.

Perhaps, the message that I can tell from this film is to remember us don’t too obsesed of things. Because it can be worst, not only for ourself but also for the people around us. The intelligence that we have can be usefull to ourself and people around us, so that we can do a changes to a positive way. So, don’t be greedy as a pig!

Peace

Benny & Mice Lost (again) in Bali, They’re Back!

Written By : Riri Oktriani

Book Identity
Title : Benny & Mice Lost in Bali 2
Story & Picture : Benny Rachmadi dan Muhammad Misrad
Publisher : KPG (Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia)
Printed : First in July 2009
Pages : 108 + iv

If the first book beginning with a question “Had you go to Bali?” And this time Benny & Mice begin it with (also) a question “What makes Bali so special?” The classic answers show up; met with poor “bule” (a calling for tourist from the foreign country), being couple, yap, it can be so romantic. And the others say that Bali was a place for fun; you can surfing and also heaven for shopping. But of course, that things not must do in Bali. So, whatever the answers, Bali giving different impressions and memories for the tourist. Also with Benny & Mice’s adventures at this second time.

They show that impressions with trying to catch the other side of Bali. In the beginning of stroy they show some discrimination of serving between domestic tourist and foreign tourist. But, still with jokes a la Benny & Mice. And unexpected, they really LOST in Bali! They was traped in a cafe at Seminyak, with whole of gay. And this continued until they arrive in hotel. Benny refuse to sleep one bed with Mice.

Their adventure schedule still continue. This time, they’re seeing the turtles farm in the Turtle Island from Tanjung Benoa. They unrecomended this place to visit, but, if you interested, why not? And then, you should pay for IDR 400.000,- to enjoy (only) 15 minutes walking under the sea. It’s expensive, isn’t it? But, If I couldn’t try it, it doesn’t matter for me, because I know that by seeing their action when Sea Walker. Little bit crazy. And you will laughing and loud of laughing wathcing their ridiculous thing on Camel Safari in Nusa Dua Beach. They dressing just like Arabian when riding the camel! “Ahlan wa Sahlan” they shouting.

After that, Ubud become their next destination. Enjoy coldness Ubud’s nature with field view and watching the class music in Jazz Cafe Ubud. They dressing (again) like jazz musician. And the journey end in “Goa Gajah”.

Unsatisfy with all of their goods on ransel, they bought impossible goods: a gazebo! But, for them, what’s impossible? Cause of that, it can be possible for me or you (who have not go to Bali yet) to go there someday. So, why don’t you enjoy the tour with both funny guy?


peace y'all