Crocodile Tears

Local title
Krokodillipisarad
Original title
Air Mata Buaya
Director
Tumpal Tampubolon
Country
Indonesia, France, Singapore, Germany
Year
2024
Festival
28th Black Nights Film Festival
Programme
Screen International Critics' Choice
Genre
psychological drama, thriller
Subject
familial relationships, animals, child-parent relationships, alienation

Atmospheric debut is set in a West Java crocodile farm.

Mother always knows best in “Crocodile Tears”. Tumpal Tampubolon’s low-key debut feature charts the unhealthy relationship between a young man and his overbearing mother, gradually shifting from family drama into more supernatural territory. The focus is on the uncomfortable bond between mother and son Johan. Working together, the duo are everything to each other. Mama showers her boy with kisses, demands shoulder massages and holds him close in her arms as they share a bed. There are no boundaries and no privacy. The question of what happened to Johan’s father is one that runs throughout the film, sparking speculation and rumours. While it has all the elements for shlocky B-movie fare the film favours restraint over excess, atmospherics over explanations.

Allan Hunter, Screen International

Director
Tumpal Tampubolon
Screenwriter
Tumpal Tampubolon
Cast
Yusuf Mahardika, Marissa Anita, Zulfa Maharani
Producer
Mandy Marahimin, Anthony Chen, Claire Lajoumard, Yi Peng Teoh, Christophe Lafont, Harry Flöter, Jörg Siepmann
Cinematographer
Teck Siang Lim
Music
Kin Leonn
Sound
Roman Dymny
Runtime
Language
Indonesian
Subtitles
English
Other festivals
London, Busan
Director
Tumpal Tampubolon

Screenings

Hall Electric Cinema, Tartu
Screening024103 / Krokodillipisarad
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
7th Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening040702 / Krokodillipisarad
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
4th Hall Apollo Kino Solaris
Screening091402 / Krokodillipisarad
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
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