Fishing Platform 2008 | Boys in movies [BiM]

Fishing Platform (2008)

Fishing Platform (2008)
Jermal (original title)
1h 28 min | Drama | 12 March 2009 (Indonesia)

Storyline:

After his mother’s death, 12-year-old Jaya (Iqbal S. Manurung) is sent to his father, Johar (Didi Petet), who works as a supervisor on a jermal (a fishing platform perched on log stilts in the middle of the sea). Johar is shocked, never knowing he has a son and rejects the boy as his kin. Fully aware he can’t bring Jaya back to land due to a dark past, Johar is forced to accept the boy as a worker on the site.

User review:

After the death of his mother a young boy must go to his father who abandoned them. The father lived in exile in a Jermal. For those who are like me and didn’t know what a Jermal his before seeing that film. It’s some kind of wooden shack in the middle of the sea where people fish. His father hires kids to do the job illegally.

It has your usual elements of a coming of age story has the kid become stronger, but the set up is so unusual that it makes it very original. I don’t want to spoil the elements of the coming of age the kid, like why did the father leave. Basically a lot of strong elements.

Finally there is the coming of age of the father who must accept fatherhood. His character is very interesting he is cold, fat and seems to care about nothing but himself.

I recommend this film it got good photography, moods and moments. A nice little Indy film without pretension.

Directors: Ravi L. Bharwani, Rayya Makarim (co-director)
Writers: Rayya Makarim, Orlow Seunke
Stars: Iqbal S. Manurung, Didi Petet, Yayu A.W. Unru
Country: Indonesia
Release Date: 12 March 2009 (Indonesia)
Also Known As: Fishing Platform.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190073/