Films Should Not Keep Us Away from Religion

JAKARTA – Lately film Indonesia’s religious horror genre is currently in the public spotlight. One of them was the appearance of the Qibla poster and film which sparked controversy.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno also gave his response regarding this phenomenon.

Sandiaga said that horror is indeed a favorite in Indonesia. However, the presence of horror films in circulation is actually a reminder to prepare yourself for life in the afterlife, not to distance yourself from religion.

“So, in my opinion, psychologically, this horror film will still sell well in Indonesia, but it shouldn’t distance us from religion, but this horror film will actually remind us of life after this world, namely that we have to prepare for the afterlife,” Sandiaga Uno was quoted as saying. from Instagram @sandiuno, Monday (1/4/2024).

Sandiaga caught the signal that horror films are so popular because they create feelings within oneself to fight fear, rather than drowning in that feeling of fear.

“I always wanted to know why horror films are so popular. It turns out that horror films are so popular because there is a desire within us to overcome our fear and watching horror films is a feeling of fear but a controlled one, because we know that it is two hours long and we are afraid “We’re afraid, we know that on either side there are people accompanying us to the cinema,” he said.

In the description of the upload on his personal Instagram account, Sandiaga Uno also said that horror films will always have a special place in people’s hearts because they are so popular.

“If Korea has drakor, Indonesia has drahor, horror dramas! Horror films have a strong appeal for Indonesian people. The principle is not to have an impact on distant spiritual feelings but instead serve as a reminder for us about the world after this,” he said.

Sandiaga Uno hopes that the film Qibla will still be shown in cinemas in the final land. He was also grateful that a solution was finally found to overcome the commotion that occurred, where Agung Saputra as a representative of the Leo Pictures production house which produced this film had met with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to respond to the criticism conveyed by the Chair of the MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) for Da’wah. KH Cholil Nafis.

The meeting also resulted in an agreement that the title and poster of the film Qibla would be changed. Leo Pictures promised to immediately change the title and poster of the film before it is shown in cinemas.

“I hope that the film Qibla, which is currently in the spotlight, can continue to be broadcast with adjustments to the direction from the MUI. Thank God, I received information that the production house has apologized and is willing to change the name of the film,” he said.

(no)