conventional / unconventional narrative

Question 1

CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE

Anwar as a protagonist: the first stage

Answer 1

• anwar is showing oppenheimer the place where he murdered people, describing in great detail the murders
• he is demonstrating how he killed them almost joyfully, joking, smiling and prancing about
• answer starts dancing and laughing on the ground where he brutally murdered people
• observational (handheld camera, long takes)

Question 2

CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE

Anwar as a protagonist: the second stage

Answer 2

• Anwar is fishing with Adi, talking about the possibility of forgiveness
• talk about the possibility of the government forming an official apology on their behalf, as this would ‘reduce the pain’, though they conclude that people would curse them secretly
• “i’m disturbed in my sleep”
• more than one camera, shots of Anwar playing with fishing equipment for transitions (GRIERSON - edited documentary)
• close ups of Anwar bring us closer to him
• observational

Question 3

CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE

Anwar as a protagonist: final stage

Answer 3

• revisiting scenes of the crime
• Anwar cries and dry retches
• “I can feel what the people I tortured felt” / “have I sinned?” / “Is it all coming back to me?”
• dark - takes place at night - duller atmosphere
• camera stays on location after Anwar leaves - makes him seem small and powerless
• seen through doorway of accessories - has he helped to create a consumerist society?
• observational / participatory / poetic

Question 4

CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE

YAPTO as an antagonist - playing golf

Answer 4

• “we killed them all, that’s what happened”
• “may i hit the ball now?” - his hobbies are more worth his time than talking about the horrific murders
• no shots to suggest he is good at golf - no attempt to glamorise him

Question 5

CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE

Pancasila lunch - negative portrayal of the organisation

Answer 5

• remarks about women - calling them whores, talking about sexual activities
• gossiping about women that cuts to the group praying - hypocritical
• “dear god, make our organisation a great pillar of this nation”

Question 6

CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE

ADI as an antagonist - car scene

Answer 6

• filmed through the rear view mirror - suggests we are seeing a performance personality
• “i don’t feel guilty”
• “war crimes are defined by the winners. i am a winner. so i can make my own definition”

Question 7

CONVENTIONAL NARRATIVE

ADI as an antagonist - shopping mall scene

Answer 7

• american/westernised - models, brands, style, layout
• “i’ve never felt guilty, never been depressed, never had nightmares”
• murderer in a shopping mall - what should be a safe space for women
• belittled by shopping in a feminine space