Posesif

Posesif is a heartbreakingly revealing Indonesian drama film directed by Edwin and released in 2017. It features some of the most rising stars of Indonesian cinema - Putri Marino, Adipati Dolken, and Gritte Agatha - showcasing their acting prowess through intricate characters and deep-seated emotional performances.

The film's title 'Posesif' translates to 'possessive' in English which plays a key thematic role in the storyline. It is an intense portrayal of a high school romance embroiled in the complex maelstrom of teenage emotion, societal expectations, and the misunderstanding of love and possession.

The film shifts from ordinary lovey-dovey high school romance and gradually dovetails into a psychological commentary on power dynamics and abusive relationships. Hints of romanticism, the importance of personal aspirations over relationships, the consequence of domination in love, and the unsettling impact of controlling behavior, all find their way into this intriguing tapestry of adolescent love.

Putri Marino, in the movie, plays Lala, a spirited and intelligent high school teenager who is a local swimming champ. She is vibrant and full of life. Balancing her focused ambition with teenage curiosity, her character is aspirational and relatable. Lala’s life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with the hunkish newcomer, Yudhis, played by Adipati Dolken.

Adipati’s portrayal of Yudhis is complex and effective, laden with underlying hints of his traumatic past. Yudhis is a recent transfer from Jakarta who stirs up the calm and composed atmosphere of Lala’s school and life. The seemingly innocent, charming Yudhis is always seen wearing a cap, making him more mysterious and intriguing, magnetically pulling Lala towards him.

The movie picks up the pace when Lala and Yudhis embark on a journey of youthful discovery, exploring the peaks and valleys of first love. Their relationship, predominantly based on mutual interests, passion for sports, shared experiences, and offbeat high school moments, progresses quite quickly from shared glances to an intense bond of affection.

However, just as the audience begins to settle into this beautiful exploration of a teenage relationship, the director raises the curtain on a noteworthy plot twist – Yudish’s possessiveness. Into this vibe of young love, Yudhis’s authoritative character slowly seeps in. His loving gestures progressively turn possessive and his affection for Lala gradually transforms into an all-consuming obsession, disregarding her dreams, her boundaries, and her personal freedom.

Beautifully woven into this narrative is the character Sari (played by Gritte Agatha). She intricately fits into the dynamic structure of the plot, adding layers of complexity, raising the suspense quotient, and showing the audience a wider spectrum of teenage emotions.

The cinematography by Batara Goembajoe remarkably captures the ups and downs of the high school romance, utilizing the refreshing and youthful setting of the school, the vibrancy of the swimming pool, and the tranquillity of the sea to symbolize various emotional stages of the protagonists' life.

The film’s direction and screenplay ensure that each character evolves in tandem with the development of the plotline. Be it the emotional transformation of Lala, the unveiling of Yudhis's possessiveness, or the vibrancy and complexities brought in by Sari, each character progression is evident and consequential.

'Posesif' adds an educational and realistic touch to the usual teenage love story. It demonstrates the importance of emotional growth, understanding, and balance within a relationship. At its core, it's a wake-up call, teaching its audience about the red flags around obsession and abusive relationships.

Overall, 'Posesif' is a dramatic blend of romance and realism, and is a must-watch for those seeking to experience a break from the clichéd concept of saccharine romance and yearn for an exploration of deeper psycho-emotional realms of a romantic relationship. Neither completely a love saga nor purely a cautionary tale, Posesif artfully strides the middle ground, triggering introspection and conversations about what love truly means, and the dire consequences that might unfold when it crosses the boundary of respect and morphs into possession.