‘MY CHARACTER HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON ME’
Indonesian actress Bunga Citra Lestari struggled to shake off her character of a former street kid in ‘Surat Kecil Untuk Tuhan’. TAHIR ALHAMZAH has the story
PLAYING Angel is definitely her most challenging role to date. Having acted in a string of movies, popular Indonesian actress Bunga Citra Lestari aka BCL finds starring in Surat Kecil Untuk Tuhan extremely disturbing.
This is because the film deals with the pressing reality about poor Indonesian kids who fall victim to a syndicate that uses them to beg for money on the streets of Jakarta.
“Angel is probably the most memorable role I’ve ever played! I am reminded by the reality of these kids having to beg on the streets of big cities with a promise of a meal at the end of the day.
“The emotions that I have to show to portray my character have taken a toll on me,” she said when met during a special photoshoot and interview at GSC Signature Gardens, Mid Valley City in Kuala Lumpur recently.
So much so BCL finds it difficult to shake off the character she played, even long after filming was over.
Surat Kecil Untik Tuhan opens with young orphans Angel and her brother, Anton, who have fallen into the hands of the syndicate.
But after Angel is involved in an accident, she is separated from her sibling.
She is then adopted by a married couple who whisk her away to Australia where she was given proper care and education.
“Driven by love, the adult Angel returns to Jakarta in search for her brother. Besides it being a heart-wrenching drama, it is also a beautiful film that focuses on an issue that plagues big cities like Jakarta and many parts in the world.
“Since it is a common scenario, people have closed an eye to this pressing problem,” said the 34year-old, who is married to Malaysian actor Ashraf Sinclair.
When she first read the script, BCL said she found herself tearing up.
“It was difficult to read about the lives of these children who are forced to beg for money.
“As an actress, I hope my portrayal as the adult Angel will open the eyes of the authorities to take the necessary action against unscrupulous parties who use kids for their own benefit,” said the mother of 6-year-old Noah.
Directed by Fajar Bustomi, the film, which took a month to shoot, was wrapped up last April and premiered in Indonesian cinemas on June 23.
“Even when the film finally opened in cinemas, I still feel that I couldn’t escape Angel,” she said.
Thankfully, BCL who is also a singer, has her music work to turn to. That provided her the avenue to fully let go of Angel and her dark world.
Surat Kecil Untuk Tuhan, which also stars Aura Kasih and Joe Taslim, will open in Malaysian cinemas on Aug 3.