Falling in Love Like in Movies (2023)

_"Maybe the mistakes in our lives can't be retconned like in the movies, but we can choose to continue" —_

Finally got the time to rewatch one of Indonesian cinema’s gems by Yandy Laurens and man, it still hits just as hard. Watching it for the second time honestly made me realize how magical this film really is. The writing’s super solid, the everyday conversations feel so natural but still manage to touch, entertain, and hit deep at the same time. Ringgo and Nirina’s performances? Insane. So much soul, so real.

What I love the most is how this film isn’t just about trauma, heartbreak, or moving on it also throws a subtle jab at the film industry today, which sometimes feels too commercial and forgets the art in filmmaking. Watching this feels like getting a peek behind the scenes of how movies are actually made the teamwork, the technical stuff, all that jazz.

It’s no surprise people call this movie a love letter to cinema. And yeah, even though it bagged like five or six Citra Awards, I still think it deserves way more recognition even on the festival circuit. It’s not too artsy, not too commercial, just the perfect balance of both. Pure love and passion for filmmaking right there.