Complete Synopsis Of The Film Ave Maria (2018)
Ave Maria is an Indonesian romantic drama film directed, produced, and written by Ertanto Robby Soediskam. Released in 2018 and released in Indonesian cinemas on April 11, 2019, the film takes on the sensitive theme of forbidden love between a nun and a Catholic priest, set against the backdrop of the city of Semarang in 1998. Starring Maudy Koesnaedi as sister Maryam, Chicco Jerikho as father Yosef, and supported by Tutie Kirana (sister Monic), Olga Lydia (sister Mila), Joko Anwar (father Martin), and Nathania Angela, the film offers an in-depth narrative of man's inner struggle, devotion, and desire to find happiness. With stunning cinematography by Ical Tanjung and a narrative approach that is minimal yet rich in meaning dialogue, Ave Maria it managed to steal the spotlight at various international film festivals, including Hanoi International Film Festival 2018, Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2018, and Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2018, before being available on Netflix in September 2020.
Background story and Character Introduction
The Film is set in Semarang, Central Java, in 1998, a period of social and political change in Indonesia. The story centers on Maryam, a 40-year-old woman who was born into a Muslim family but chose to become a Catholic nun. Maryam, played by Maudy Koesnaedi, works as a nurse in a nursing home in Girisonta, Ambarawa, Semarang. Her main task was to care for seven elderly nuns in a sisters ' dormitory, a sacred vocation that demanded complete fidelity to God and a vow of celibacy. Mary's life was filled with routines of devotion: bathing the elder sisters, preparing meals, cleaning the dormitory, and meeting their needs, often late into the night. Despite coming from a Muslim family, Maryam lived her role with dedication, reflecting her commitment to faith and devotion.
Maryam is introduced as the new occupant of the dormitory by Father Martin (Joko Anwar), a priest who introduces her to Sister Monic (Tutie Kirana), a strict senior nun, and sister Mila (Olga Lydia), the person in charge of the dormitory. Maryam's presence is welcomed, but her orderly life begins to be shaken by the arrival of father Yosef (Chicco Jericho), a handsome, charismatic, and musically gifted young pastor, particularly as an orchestra expert. Different from the rigid stereotype of the priest, Yosef has a humanist side and emotional sensitivity that makes him stand out.
Main Conflict: Forbidden Love
Mary's meeting with Father Joseph was the starting point of her inner turmoil. Joseph, with his charm and tenderness, brought new colors to the monotonous life of Mary. Gradually, a feeling of love began to grow in Mary's heart, a feeling that contradicted the vow of celibacy that she had upheld. Joseph himself, though bound to the same promise as the priest, was also captivated by Mary. Their relationship develops quietly, shown through subtle gestures, meaningful looks, and small moments full of emotion, such as when they share an indirect “conversation” in a restaurant through movie dialogue that plays in the background.
However, this forbidden relationship did not go unnoticed. Sister Monic, who had a close relationship with Yosef since childhood, warned the two to stop the feelings. Monic advises Joseph to stay away from Mary, while Mary herself begins to falter in carrying out her duties. She often came home late, neglected her responsibilities, and doubted her commitment as a nun. The climax of the conflict takes place in a scene on the beach, where Mary and Joseph give in to their feelings. This scene, which is shown implicitly through symbolism such as a car door left open, becomes a climactic moment depicting Mary's surrender to love, as well as the violation of her sacred promise.
Inner struggles and Life Choices
Ave Maria it tells not only about romance, but also about moral and existential dilemmas. Mary was faced with a difficult choice: remain faithful to her vow of devotion to God or pursue the personal happiness represented by love for Joseph. The Film explores Maryam's inner struggles through a narrative that is slow and full of symbolism, such as the change in the color palette of Maryam's clothes that gets darker as her inner conflict intensifies. Sister Monic, as a representation of authority and wisdom, provides a profound perspective through her iconic dialogue: “If Heaven alone is uncertain for me, why should your hell be any of my business?” This sentence reflects Mary's freedom to determine her own destiny, without patronizing judgment.
Joseph had a similar conflict. In a scene of confession, Mary unknowingly expresses her feelings in the confessional, where Joseph, who served as confessor, can only weep silently, reflecting his own heartbreak and weakness as a human being. The Film cleverly avoids the delivery of explicit moral messages, allowing the audience to interpret for themselves the meaning of the emotional journey of the two characters.
Floating end
One of the strengths Ave Maria it's an open ending story. At the end of the film, Maryam is seen leaving the dormitory with a suitcase, but it is not explained whether she chose to leave the monastic life, pursue Joseph, or find a new path. This vagueness was deliberately created by the director to provide space for the audience to formulate the ending according to their respective perceptions, while reflecting the complexity of human life.
Technical and aesthetic elements
Ave Maria praised for the beauty of its cinematography, which managed to capture the charm of Semarang's colonial architecture, forests, and mountains with warm colors and symmetrical image composition. Ical Tanjung, the Citra Cup-winning cinematographer, presents eye-catching visuals, such as shots of old European-style buildings that reinforce the nostalgic feel. Soundtrack film, yang mencakup lagu-lagu rohani seperti “O Holy Night” dan “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” serta lagu penutup “Sacred Heart” oleh Aimee Saras, menambah kedalaman emosional. The minimal approach to dialogue, with an emphasis on facial expressions, body gestures, and symbolism, makes the film feel both poetic and profound.
Context and controversy
Ave Maria considered as a new breakthrough in Indonesian cinema because it raises Catholic themes that are rarely touched upon, amid the dominance of Islamic narratives in local cinema. The Film was inspired by a true story in Konsteran Mitra Sepuh, Semarang, and was produced voluntarily without pay for the crew and cast, reflecting the passion to bring new colors in the film industry. However, the film also drew controversy, especially due to the selection of Maudy Koesnaedi, a Muslim, to play The Nun, which sparked questions about religious sensitivity. In addition, the cinema version (73 minutes) was cut 12 minutes from the festival version (85 minutes) to meet the 17+ censorship standard, while the full version (21+) was only shown at select festivals.
Awards and reception
The Film won several awards, including Best Cinematography Director (Ical Tanjung) at the 2019 Indonesian Film Festival and Tempo's Choice Actress (Maudy Koesnaedi, Tutie Kirana, Olga Lydia) at the 2018 Tempo Film Festival. Ave Maria juga memenangkan kategori Best Editing di ASEAN International Film Festival & Awards 2019. Although it only attracted around 80,000 viewers in 30 Indonesian cinemas with a revenue of around Rp3.2 billion, the film received critical acclaim for its bravery in raising sensitive themes, aesthetic sensibility, and non-judgmental narrative approach.
Meaning and interpretation
Thematically, Ave Maria not just a story of forbidden love, but a reflection on humanity, freedom of choice and the conflict between duty and passion. The Film uses semiotic approaches, such as the symbolism of an open car door or a book with a sensual cover that Maryam reads, to convey meaning implicitly. Title Ave Maria itself, which combines “Ave Maria” (Catholic Prayer) and “Maryam” (name with Islamic connotations), reflects a unique blend of cultures and religions. The Film invites the viewer to reflect on a universal question: How do human beings balance between devotion, faith and personal desire?
Conclusion
Ave Maria is a bold, poetic, and profound cinematic work, which explores the complexity of human emotions amid religious and moral bonds. With expressive acting from Maudy Koesnaedi and Chicco Jerikho, stunning cinematography, and a narrative open to interpretation, the film offers a viewing experience that stirs hearts and minds. For audiences looking for stories about love, sacrifice, and the search for self, Ave Maria it is a jewel of Indonesian cinema worth seeing.
