Opera Jawa

I saw this film at the Toronto International Film Festival. The name of the movie should have warned me that the movie will be an Opera! The movie was all song and dance, more in the lines of Phantom of the Opera. I would have enjoyed the movie more if I knew the language. Listening to the songs and reading the subtitles just doesn't give the correct feel. The dances were traditional Indonesian. The movie was a visual treat and the dance performances were really good. The story is a modern interpretation of an Indian Hindu mythological story called the Ramayana. In Ramayana, Sita, the wife of Prince Rama, is abducted by a the king of Lanka, Ravana. Ravana wants to have Sita for himself. Prince Rama and his brother Lakshmana fight Ravana to reclaim his wife. In Opera Jawa, the role of Ravana is played by Ludiro who tries to lure Siti into his life despite her marriage with Setio. The classic victory of good over evil story of Ramayana has been very nicely adapted for the modern day.