"Before, Now and Then" follows an Indonesian woman’s readjustment

Written by Diane Carson

Indonesian director Kamila Andini brings a haunting, historically grounded story to gorgeous life in “Before, Now and Then.” Set in West Java in the 1960s, wife and mother Nana, has escaped the civil war which forced President Sukarno to relinquish power in 1967 to Suharto. The disappearance of her husband during that tumultuous time haunts Nana’s recurring, terrifying nightmares.

As the title signals, Nana revisits her past, navigates her present fifteen years after her escape, and anticipates an altered future. Assuming her husband Icang has been murdered along with thousands of other communists, Nana marries wealthy Mr. Darga, an older, kind, unfaithful, Sudanese plantation landlord. Providing some comfort for Nana, a supportive friendship blooms between her and Darga’s mistress Ino.

The personal and political intertwine, while unexpected events jar Nana’s equilibrium amidst memories of her past traumas. Ever resourceful, Nana comments, “I must be like water, adapt to the environment,” which she calmly and resourcefully does. As Nana, Happy Salma’s dignified bearing and enchanting beauty define her presence. Cinematographer Batara Goempar highlights these characteristics with compositions reminiscent of Wong Kar-Wai’s “In the Mood for Love.” Flattering lighting and exquisite compositions of long held shots communicate this unearthly world. Ricky Lionardi’s use of ethereal voices and evocative cello music reinforce that association as writer/director Andini profiles a strong woman in an inequitable, patriarchal context.

At times following a stream-of-consciousness flow with dramatized dreams and memories, “Before, Now and Then” reminds me of Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul films as well. Characters all but float through untethered time and space, much as we may, upon occasion, reminisce while immersed in daily life. It creates a unique emotional and physical space with a very appealing ambiance, the real intermingled with the ephemeral. The mood lasts long after the film concludes. In Indonesian with English subtitles, “Before, Now and Then” screens at Webster University’s Winifred Moore auditorium Saturday, September 30, and Sunday, October 1, at 7:30 each of those evenings. For more information, you may visit the film series website.