Jalanan

Directed by Daniel Ziv, Jalanan is an exceptional 2013 documentary film telling the poignant tales of three individual lives intertwined through a shared existence as street musicians in the chaotic megacity that is Jakarta, Indonesia.

Jalanan, which translates ‘streets’ in English, paints a captivating picture of the underprivileged lives of its protagonists – Boni, Ho, and Titi. Each constituting a remarkably diverse personality from the other, their stories reflect the unvarnished reality of the Indonesian capital which is drenched in socio-cultural complications and the perennial struggle for existence of its dwellers.

Boni, Ho, and Titi, as musicians and street performers, conduct their artistic journey in the public buses of Jakarta. They experience music as not merely a channel for liberal expression, but also a vital source of sustenance in the trying circumstances of their lives. Every single day, they make their precarious journey through the city's monstrous traffic, onto buses where they serenade their way through the commuter crowds, trying to scrape by a living amid the fluctuating tide of public opinion.

Bonnie is a charismatic man who dwells in a tunnel underneath the city's high-end business district. He aspires relentlessly to improve his living by his minimal earnings from bus performances. Ho is a deeply religious Muslim who dreamingly looks forward to a better future, while grappling with adversities in the present. Titi is a fiercely independent mother, a survivor following her traumatic past, who uses music to chronicle her life experiences and challenges.

The film is a compelling insight into contemporary Indonesian society, the ever-widening gap between the affluent and the poor, the dichotomy between rapid urban development and acute poverty. However, it is not simply a bleak and depressing narrative of struggle and misfortune. Jalanan is also a celebration of the human spirit, resilience and of course, music. The soulful compositions of the trio, often improvised and reflective of their immediate realities and emotions, convey a potent sense of their unwavering resistance and optimism.

Daniel Ziv’s touch as a filmmaker transforms a topic that could easily fall into the genre of poverty porn into a charming narrative which respects the dignity of his subjects. Ziv, an expat resident of Jakarta, spent over five years developing Jalanan, during which he closely followed the lives of Boni, Ho, and Titi, gradually gaining their trust and deep understanding of their worlds. His documentary style strikes a fine balance between observational storytelling and interviews with the subjects, maintaining the authenticity of their narratives without excessive dramatization.

His use of subtitles in Jalanan (primarily filmed in Indonesian) also deserves mention. The subtitles do not merely transcribe the dialogue but succeed in conveying the rich palette of emotions and maintaining the lyrical essence of the street songs which are the lifeblood of this film’s narrative.

The impressive cinematography of Jalanan beautifully captures the bustling urban landscape of Jakarta, its slums, the cacophony of city streets and the chaotic bus commutes. It draws attention towards aspects and occurrences which usually remain unnoticed in the humdrum of city life. The music and sounds of the city are decibels of its real, often harsh, life.

On release, Jalanan became a mirror reflecting the less seen side of Jakarta and was warmly received both at home and globally. This documentary managed to tap into discussions at the policy level as well, drawing attention to the underprivileged lives dutifully ignored by urban development approaches.

Jalanan is thus a deeply engrossing, uplifting and thought-provoking portrayal of three artists who utilize their hardships as a motivation to create their unique brand of music. It is, in essence, a tribute to the incredible resilience and spirit of human beings faced with profound challenges. For anyone exploring the realms of world cinema, Jalanan offers an engaging, musically rich voyage into the realities of street life in Jakarta, making it a documentary well worth watching.