THE RAID

Indonesia, 2011, 101 minutes, Colour.
Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Pierre Gruno.
Directed by Gareth Evans.

One of the most macho films you could see. I am not sure that many female audiences would want to sit through this action film.

While the director is Welsh, and the title is in English, it is very much an Indonesian film. In fact, a reviewer remarked that it was probably true to life in its portrayal of gangsters in Jarkarta and the attempt of a police squad to take down a gang. Checking with an Indonesian priest whether this might be the case, he thought that it was.

Whether the film is accurate or not, it is a literal bone-crunching, sword-slashing, gun-toting, dead and mutilated cadaver-filled actioner. There are quite a number of martial arts fights (stretching credibility most of the time if you asked whether any human being could take all these cuts and blows – and people question The Passion of the Christ! – and then get up, one after extreme torture, and launch into the fights again). There are many more shoot-out fights.

The Raid is a correct title for the film. A small squad sets out to get into a building to flush out a ruthless gangster and his main advisers, let alone the seemingly endless supply of henchmen. But, they have been betrayed. Police corruption is a pervading theme. The police are continually picked off – at one stage we see a heap of dead police – but our hero and his assistant plus a seemingly cowardly and older officer survive beyond all expectations let alone probabilities.

We see the hero at the outset at home combining tight physical exercise with contemplation of the Quran. He is obviously sympathetic and remains so, heroic beyond possible endurance. And, then we find that the policy adviser and keeper of accounts for the gangster is his brother. That brings some complications in fights and loyalties before the end.

Just in case anyone wondered whether there was any female presence in the film: the hero’s wife is pregnant and that motivates him to survive; a man who occupies an apartment in the gangster building has a sick wife who is afraid, especially when her husband hides our her from his pursuers. But, that is it.

Of course, it should be said, that the technical expertise in the film-making, the editing and the choreography of the fights is top-notch. Favourable reviews (and The Raid has been called the action movie of the year, and rights for an American version have been paid for) talk about the craft rather than the visual and thematic brutality of the narrative.

PS. Just found a sample blog on the Internet Movie Database from adhipar in Indonesia: “This film is best seen with your group of friends who enjoy hardcore and bloody fights, so you can cheer, scream, yell, sigh together and talk about it (and probably count how many ways to die/kill people in this film) on the way home.’

1. The commercial success of the film? In Indonesia? Around the world? Its becoming a cult film? A sequel?

2. The director, his British background, working in Indonesia, filmmaking? Interest in martial arts? In this kind of action film?

3. Jakarta, the city, the buildings, the exteriors, moving to the interiors? The rousing score?

4. Stunt work, action sequences, violence, brutality, the body count? Language issues?

5. The basic setup, the police, the Chief, the officers, the authorities, authorising the raid, the aims, assembling outside the building?

6. The gangsters, upper floors, the large number, the boss, his crimes, decision to defend as well as to attack? Ruthless?

7. The role of the gangsters, moving down the floors, the descent, steps, lifts, the corridors, the rooms? Strategies and tactics?

8. The action of the police, the officials, the leaders, going up, stairs, lifts, the rooms, corridors, the attacks? Police corruption and betrayal?

9. The focus on the battles, the choreography of war? Casualties?

10. The hero, his pregnant wife, praying the Koran? his place in the team, his skills, going into action, exercising leadership, martial arts skills?

11. The resolution of the raid? The validity of the police action? Success?

12. This kind of film for fans of martial arts and crime films?