Letters from Prague

Letters from Prague (Indonesian: Surat dari Praha) is a 2016 Indonesian drama film directed by Angga Dwimas Sasongko. It was selected as the Indonesian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.

Letters from Prague
Film poster
Directed by	Angga Dwimas Sasongko
Written by	M Irfan Ramli
Produced by	Angga Dwimas Sasongko Anggia Kharisma Handoko Hendroyono Chicco Jerikho Glenn Fredly
Starring	Julie Estelle Tio Pakusadewo Widyawati Rio Dewanto
Cinematography	Ivan Anwal Pane
Edited by	Ahsan Andrian
Music by	Glenn Fredly
Release date	28 January 2016 (2016-01-28)
Running time	93 Minutes
Country	Indonesia
Languages	Indonesian Czech English

Plot

The will of Sulastri Kusumaningrum, the mother of Kemala Dahayu Larasati (colloquially Laras), states that she bequeathed her house to Laras, with the condition that she send a box of old letters to Mahdi Jayasri (colloquially Jaya), an old man living in Prague who works at a stage theater. Though eager of the bequest following her divorce with an unfaithful husband, Laras is reluctant of the condition, but nevertheless accepts. The passive-aggressive Jaya rejects the presence of the letters, then grieve alone. Laras angrily goes to a hotel, but finds herself in culture shock, prompting Jaya to allow her to stay in his apartment.

Alone, Laras decides to read the letters herself. It is revealed that Jaya was Sulastri's fiance who failed to fulfill his promise to return decades ago due to Indonesia's transition to the New Order, where Suharto opposers are banned from Indonesia. He, alongside three other peers, exited Indonesia via the Port of Belawan emigrating to Czechoslovakia, living in exile in Prague. Laras concludes that her mother used to lock herself daily waiting for Jaya's return, harming her parents' psychology and household. Jaya says he refused to accept the letters as he had let go of his past, but after a painful lecture by Laras, he tearfully accepts.

After cooling off the next day, Jaya invites Laras to a casual lunch, where she learns the internal, caring attitude Jaya has. Jaya later tells more of his stories to Laras, and the consequences of his opposition towards Suharto, though is satisfied with his decision. In exchange, Laras tells her stories to Jaya offscreen. Both feel an internal connection between them, leading to Jaya writing a song dedicated to Laras. Concluding the day, Jaya commits to treating Laras as his daughter; Laras accepts.

The next morning, Laras tells Jaya to forgive the past and return to Indonesia. Jaya angrily confronts her, expressing hate towards Indonesia. Laras concludes that he is unable to forgive himself. Jaya reads a reply letter from Sulastri, where it is revealed that Laras' full name is the one Jaya wanted for her possible daughter. Sulastri purposefully told Laras to fly to Prague to send Jaya's letters, hoping that by meeting her, he can forgive the past and quell his anger. Jaya stops the fleeing Laras and they both reconcile.

Cast

Main

• Tio Pakusadewo as Jaya

A former Indonesian student in the 1960s who was exiled in Prague

• Julie Estelle as Larasati

A divorced woman trying to fulfill her deceased mother's last wish to deliver a box filled with letters from her past to an old man living in Prague

• Widyawati as Sulastri

Larasati's mother and Jaya's former fiance

• Rio Dewanto as Dewa

An Indonesian student working as a part-time bartender in Prague

Supporting

• Chicco Jerikho as Rama, Larasati's ex-husband
• Jajang C. Noer
• Shafira Umm

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient(s) and nominee(s)	Result	Ref(s)
2016	Usmar Ismail Awards	Best Film	Letters From Prague	Won
		Best Director	Angga Dwimas Sasongko	Won
		Best Actor	Tio Pakusadewo	Won
		Best Supporting Actress	Widyawati	Nominated
		Best Editing	Ahsan Andrian	Nominated
		Best Sound	Satrio Budiono	Nominated
		Best Music	Thoersi Argeswara Glenn Fredly	Nominated
2016	2016 Indonesian Movie Awards	Best Actor	Tio Pakusadewo	Nominated
		Best Actress	Julie Estelle	Nominated
		Most Favorite Actor	Tio Pakusadewo	Nominated
		Most Favorite Actress	Julie Estelle	Won
		Most Favorite Film	Letters from Prague	Nominated
		Best Chemistry	Tio Pakusadewo Julie Estelle	Nominated
		Lifetime Achievement	Widyawati	Recipient

See also

• List of submissions to the 89th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of Indonesian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

External links

• Letters from Prague at IMDb