Twenty minutes into Makbul Mubarak’s Autobiography, its protagonist, Muhammad Rakib, steps out of the car that he drives into an Indonesian mosque. He, a house boy, steps out at the bidding of his boss Purna, a general running for office. Purna makes Rakib, who he calls Kib, apologize to a crowd that may have otherwise lynched him. Purna teaches Kib the power of apologies.
Humility sounds like sage wisdom except that the latter finds out that the former, a descendant of Indonesia’s upper class, is the kind of man who thinks that he never does anything wrong ever in his life. That he compartmentalizes the acts of violence he commits and eventually, he convinces Kib to commit without using blatant direct orders to do so.
Autobiography‘s visuals work for the film. Its desaturated colours may remind some viewers of present day thrillers where occasionally, there’s something lurking in the background that makes its protagonist fear for their lives. Its characters are also compelling and have potential and its two lead actors Kevin Ardilova and Arswendy Bening Swara do what the can to flesh their characters out.
It’s unfortunate that the screenplay make them go to places that character like this go to. The transition between Kib being complicit in strong arming a kid to regretting his actions doesn’t feel smooth enough. There’s a version of this where Kib can act smarter and can make the film shorter. And there’s a third act reveal that feels disappointing and predictable.
- Release Date: 9/12/2022
