ANGIN
(An Essence of Wind)
Title/English Title : Angin/An Essence of Wind
Director : Winaldo Artaraya Swastia
Duration : 24 minutes
Subtitle : English
Synopsis
Dhammariya is a bhikkhu who served in a temple far from cities. One day, he found a meditator’s cell phone which was left in a guest room. Dhammariya was tempted to use it to call his family. This incident led him to long for his family and fell into uncomfortable meditation state because he was attached to the longing.
Director’s Biography
Winaldo Artaraya Swastia (1985, Jakarta) graduated from Jakarta Institute of Art, majoring in film directing. He received full scholarship for 6 semesters from the school and achieved Cum Laude in 2010. He directed 14 short films in total, 6 of which using 16mm celluloid film and the other 8 using video, including Angin, his latest short film. He also directed several video clips and is currently working as freelance assistant director in feature films and video clips while still directing short films.
Director’s Filmography
Saksi Terbisu/The Most Silent Witness, Rosary (Do You Believe in Miracles?) (2004), Hilang/Lost, Tak Tergantikan/Irreplaceble (2005), Smile!, Kedai/The Café (2006), AKHIR!/THE END! (2007), The Truth, Triangle, Tangan-tangan Jahil/Mischievous Hands, Lima Sisi/Five Corners, Gelap/Dark, Jason dan Ayahnya/Jason and His Father (2008), Angin/An Essence of Wind (2010).
Director’s Statement
A short film represents the reality in which we exist and experience. Human is bound by time: the past, the present and the future. This film is an effort to emphasize that the past stays in the past and there is no necessity to ponder to much about it; the future, on the other hand, has yet to come and again, there is no need to contemplate too much about it. The importance lies in the present as a benchmark that will determine what comes next.
This film aims to bring up the importance of the presence of the present from Buddishm point of view; a teaching which regards the present as the most important moment in human’s life. In this film, a bikkhu named Dhammariya found a cell phone in the meditation room. He ended up using the phone to contact his ex-wife (Ida) and his daughter (Dewi), which in turn, disturbed his thoughts and meditation. After finding out that his family has finally found their own happiness and there was no use to chase after them, he returned the cell phone to the owner. By letting go his desire to reconnect with his past, Dhammariya brought joy to his life, and to Ida and Dewi indirectly.
