Daun di Atas Bantal merespon antara lain tahun emas kemerdekaan Indonesia yang jatuh pada tahun 1995, menceritakan tentang tiga anak jalanan yang sekadar berusaha bertahan hidup di jalanan Yogyakarta. Kancil, Sugeng dan Heru adalah anak-anak yang tidak sempat mengenyam hasil kemerdekaan dan pembangunan, yang harus terus berlari dan menyelinap hanya untuk bisa makan hari itu. Ironisnya, dengan latar belakang parade mewah memperingati tahun emas negara ini.
Satu-satunya yang peduli pada mereka hanyalah seorang penjual batik keliling bernama Asih (Christine Hakim), yang juga sama tak berdayanya ketika anak-anak itu dilindas takdir. Pada akhirnya, Asih jugalah satu-satunya yang menjadi saksi keberadaan mereka, dan mungkin juga, yang bisa menyuarakan ketakutan mereka, selirih apapun.
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Leaf on a Pillow is Garin Nugroho’s own take on the glimmers of Indonesia’s golden year as a sovereign back in 1995. It tells the story of three street urchins, merely trying to survive on the streets of Jogjakarta. Kancil, Sugeng and Heru had never been fortunate enough to reap any benefit of their nation’s independence. Even when the celebratory parade rolls on, they still have to run against all odds just to make sure there’s something to eat on that day.
The only person caring about them is Asih (Christine Hakim), a batik seller, herself struggling to survive and acts as a some kind of mother figure. Even she is powerless when the menaces of society came upon the children and devour them all. In the end, Asih is the only voice they got, to testify that those souls existed, once.
Sutradara Garin Nugroho | Pemeran Kancil, Sugeng, Heru, Christine Hakim | Negara Indonesia | Jenis Fiksi | Tahun 1998 | Durasi 83 menit | Bahasa Indonesia | Subteks Bahasa Inggris | Format 35mm | Klasifikasi Usia 15+
Penghargaan
Pemenang | Special Jury Prize | Tokyo International Film Festival 1998, Tokyo, Jepang
Pemenang | Best Picture | Asia Pacific International Film Festival 1998, Taipei, Cina
Pemenang | Best Actress | Asia Pacific International Film Festival 1998, Taipei, Cina
Pemenang | Best Picture | Cinemanilla International Film Festival 1999, Filipina
Pemenang | Best Actress | Cinemanilla International Film Festival 1999, Filipina
Festival
Official Selection | Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival 1998, Cannes, Perancis
Official Selection | Tokyo International Film Festival, 1998, Tokyo, Jepang
In Competition | Foreign Language Film section, Academy Award, 1999
Official Selection | Rotterdam Film Festival 1999, Rotterdam, Belanda
Official Selection | New York Film Festival 1999, New York, Amerika Serikat
Official Selection | Sydney International Film Festival 1999, Sidney, Australia
Official Selection | Melbourne International Film Festival1999, Melbourne, Australia
Official Selection | Brisbane International Film Festival 1999, Brisbane, Australia
Official Selection | Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival 1999, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Official Selection | Vancouver International Film Festival 1999, Vancouver, Kanada
Official Selection | Pusan International Film Festival 1999, Pusan, Korea Selatan
Official Selection | London International Film Festival 1999, London, Inggris