The Dancer (2011 film)

The Dancer
Promotional poster
IndonesianSang Penari
Directed byIfa Isfansyah
Written bySalman Aristo
Ifa Isfansyah
Shanty Harmayn
Based onRonggeng Dukuh Paruk
by Ahmad Tohari
Produced byShanty Harmayn
StarringNyoman Oka Antara
Prisia Nasution
CinematographyYadi Sugandi
Music byWong Aksan
Titi Sjuman
Production
company
Salto Films
Release date
  • 10 November 2011 (2011-11-10) (Indonesia)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryIndonesia
LanguagesIndonesian, Banyumasan

The Dancer (Indonesian: Sang Penari) is a 2011 Indonesian film based on the trilogy of novels Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk by Ahmad Tohari and directed by Ifa Isfansyah. Starring Nyoman Oka Antara and Prisia Nasution, it tells the story of a young man and his friendship with his small village's new ronggeng.

The second adaptation of the Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk trilogy, Sang Penari required two years of research to better present the historical context, including the 30 September Movement and ensuing anti-communist actions; these details, censored in the original trilogy by the New Order government, were more explicit than in the novels. Although the film was set and shot in Purwokerto, Central Java, neither of the leads was ethnic Javanese. Nasution, cast in her debut role, is Batak, while Antara is Balinese.

Upon its release on 10 November 2011, Sang Penari was critically praised. Tohari called it a "sublime adaptation of his work",[1] while Labodalih Sembiring of the Jakarta Globe described its socio-cultural elements as worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy. At the 2011 Indonesian Film Festival, Sang Penari won four awards, including Best Picture, out of nine nominations.