Movie Review: Ada Apa Dengan Cinta

Orientation :
Released on 8th February 2002, Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? went on to become Indonesian
cinemas biggest box-office draw that year, with up to two million viewers. Set in Jakarta, this
teen romance drama brought fame to director Rudy Soedjarwo, and kick-started the careers of
main actress Dian Sastrowardoyo and main actor Nicholas Saputra. It also gained controversy
among conservative Indonesians for being the first teen movie that featured a kissing scene.
Interprentative Recount :
A popular senior high school girl faces a difficult choice; should she admit her love for an
unpopular boy and lose her friends, or keep her pride and live in misery?
Cinta (Dian Sastrowardoyo) along with her group of four best girlfriends, form the editorial team
of the schools bulletin board. She submits a poem to her schools annual poetry competition,
and is the favorite to win. However, the prize eventually goes to an unknown boy, Rangga
(Nicholas Saputra). Seeking to interview Rangga for the bulletin board, Cinta is shocked when
he rudely turns her down, and takes an instant dislike to him. She complains about him to her
friends. It turns out that Rangga never submitted his poem for the competition; rather, the school
janitor entered a poem Rangga once wrote on his behalf. As popular as Cinta is, Rangga is her
polar opposite, keeping to himself most of the time, and has no other friends besides the school
janitor. Cinta finds herself admiring Ranggas poetry, and when they discover a shared interest
in Indonesian literature, they begin to keep in touch regularly. Their friendship, though often
marred by arguments, starts to evolve into romance, but fear and pride prevent either of them
from admitting their feelings. This secrecy starts to strain Cintas relationship with her clique,
which leads to a crisis of trust among them. Cintas guilt causes her to blame Rangga,
jeopardizing their budding romance. They break up, but unbeknownst to Cinta, she might not
get to see Rangga ever again.
Evaluation :
The plot of the movie " Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?" unfolds in a chronological order, and the
characters of Cinta and Rangga are well developed, as is the interaction between them. The
cast of supporting characters, such as Cintas clique, Ranggas family, and other school kids are
less well developed, and often are there just to move the plot along, or provide emotional
tension. The main crux of the show hinges on the emotional struggle that Cinta faces, having to
choose between a secret romance with Rangga, and her close emotional bonds with her clique
of girlfriends. This is something many of us can identify with, and the emotional dilemma of
choosing, not between right and wrong, but between two equally grey choices. However, there
are moments which require the viewer to have more than just a tad suspension of belief, such
as when one of Cintas close friends is hospitalized due to abuse or a scene with a sympathetic
airport security guard near the end. These moments break the illusion of reality that the show
has otherwise carefully constructed.
Conclusion :
Overall, the movie "Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?" is heartwarming, and showcases well the hope
that young love represents. It will appeal to teens and adults alike, through the believable and
likable main characters, effective use of setting and sound, and the emotional appeal it makes.