This City Is a Battlefield

“Adapted from the novel by Mochtar Lubis, Perang Kota marks Mouly Surya’s long-awaited return — and honestly, it’s such a joy to see her back in the director’s chair. After waiting so long for its release, there are several things I truly love about this film: its lavish production design that brings us back to the post-independence atmosphere of the archipelago, the beautifully composed score that enhances the mood and deeply supports the narrative, and the performances of the three leads — calm yet intense, soulful, and emotionally vulnerable. What didn’t quite work for me were the overused long takes that felt unnecessary in some scenes, and a few characters that seemed underdeveloped, making them feel somewhat shallow. The love triangle subplot also didn’t add much tension to the relationship between Isa and Hazil. Not exactly amazing, but overall, I really enjoyed the film.”