Before, Now & Then Nana

Synopsis

In 1960s Indonesia, middle-aged Nana finds herself in an untenable situation. Wrestling with trauma over having lost her family to war in West Java, she has embarked on a new chapter with a wealthy second husband, but their unsatisfying union has left her feeling alone and adrift. She ultimately finds connection in the most unexpected of places, developing a close bond with her husband’s mistress. Together, the pair set out to discover a new sort of freedom and intimacy beyond the confines of a smothering patriarchal society. Star Happy Salma is a revelation as Nana, a dignified woman concealing her pain and frustration behind a mask of calm serenity. With a memorable score, distinctive camerawork, and expressive color palette Kamila Andini’s film has earned comparisons to Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love, but the feminist period drama has a dreamy, rapturous quality all its own.