Watch Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts

Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, directed by Mouly Surya, is a unique Indonesian film that tells the story of a widow who is forced to take matters into her own hands to defend herself against a group of ruthless men. Marlina (Marsha Timothy) lives alone in her rural farmhouse in the remote West Timor region of Indonesia. One day, a gang of robbers led by Markus (Egy Fedly) arrives on her doorstep and demands food, water, and hospitability. However, they do more than just take what they need. Markus and his gang go on a full-fledged raid of Marlina's premises and attack her sexually. This horrific experience prompts Marlina to seek justice and vengeance.

The movie is divided into four acts, each with its own unique focus and cinematic style. The first act, titled "The Robbery," sets the scene and creates an atmosphere of suspense as the audience watches Marlina playing along with these uninvited guests, trying to outwit them.

In the second act, called "The Journey," Marlina embarks on a solo journey to report the crimes committed by Markus and his gang to the local authorities. Along the way, she encounters different characters that shape her story, including a pregnant friend and a musician, as well as her growing empowerment to take justice into her own hands.

The third act of the movie, titled "The Confession," showcases Marlina meeting up with the local police to give evidence, but their reaction to her circumstances is less than sympathetic. Marlina's experience of injustice and patriarchal suppression is heightened in this act.

In the final act, titled "The Birth," Marlina finally gains her revenge against Markus, the instigator of all her misery. However, the movie avoids falling into the typical Hollywood trope of action climax: it is more character driven and focussed on the engrossing developments of the protagonist.

Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is a compelling drama that explores the themes of female empowerment and gender-based violence in a patriarchal society. The racial tensions between the minority diaspora of the Sumba people and the majority population of the more “Javanese-looking” Indonesians, portrayed in passing moments in the film, are a testament to the director’s desire to draw out social issues that affect Indonesian society.

The movie is a combination of suspense, dark humor, and touching moments that beautifully illustrate the strength of the human spirit. The choice of setting in the remote rural location of West Timor, with its hard life dominated by a hot and parched landscape, also lends the movie an otherworldly and austere quality that adds to its mystique.

Marsha Timothy's performance as the titular character is exceptional. She manages to convey all the emotions that Marlina feels throughout the film, from fear and sadness to determination and courage, in a way that feels authentic and real. Egy Fedly, who plays Markus, also provides the right level of menace and control in his performance, making him a compelling character to watch.

The visuals and production design in Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts exploit the full potential of the Indonesian environment, with distinct shots of the barren terrain brilliantly captured by the cinematographer Yunus Pasolang, who later won awards for 'Best Cinematographer' at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2017. The elaborate camera work reflects the characters’ inner turmoil and keeps the audience thoroughly invested with its range of angles, compositions and shot reversals.

The movie received widespread critical acclaim earning over 16 international prizes, including the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) Award at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.. It delves into issues of sexual violence, past trauma, colonial legacy to name a few, showcasing the filmmaker’s precision in weaving societal critiques while still telling a captivating story.

Overall, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is a powerful film that showcases the dynamic mix of social realism and cinema. It's an emotional roller-coaster ride that will keep the audiences hooked, up until the final act.

Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is a 2018 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 77.