‘Crocodile Tears’ Snaps Up Toronto Premiere: Indonesian Filmmaker Tumpal Tampubolon’s Family Drama Bares Its Teeth, Trailer Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE)

As a film enthusiast with a penchant for discovering unique stories, I am absolutely thrilled about the upcoming release of “Crocodile Tears” by Indonesian filmmaker Tumpal Tampubolon. The film’s premise, inspired by his fascination with crocodiles and Indonesian familial dynamics, promises a fresh perspective that is rarely seen on screen.


A sneak peek at the upcoming film “Crocodile Tears” was recently revealed, as it prepares for its global debut at the Toronto Film Festival.

The movie serves as the debut feature film by Indonesian director Tumpal Tampubolon and narrates the story of Johan, who resides secludedly with his mother on a crocodile farm. They lead a life of solitude, finding companionship in only one white crocodile. However, their peaceful isolation is shattered when Johan develops feelings for Arumi from the nearby town, triggering a series of events that jeopardizes the delicate equilibrium of their lives.

This film is a joint production between Talamedia from Indonesia (produced by Mandy Marahimin), Giraffe Pictures from Singapore (led by producers Anthony Chen and Teoh Yi Peng), Acrobates Films from France (headed by Claire Lajoumard) and Poetik Film from France (managed by Christophe Lafont), as well as 2Pilots Filmproduction from Germany (overseen by Harry Flöter and Jörg Siepmann). The international sales for the movie are being managed by Cercamon, a company founded by seasoned sales agent Sebastien Chesneau.

Previously, Tampubolon has penned numerous screenplays and helmed several short films, such as “The Sea Calls for Me,” which bagged the Sonje Award for the Best Short Fiction category at the Busan International Film Festival in 2021.

The idea for “Crocodile Tears” originated from a television documentary on crocodiles that Tampubolon had seen. One of the scenes depicted a mother croc protecting her young by placing them in her jaws, and this struck Tampubolon as remarkable because it showcases how one set of jaws can be both terrifyingly fierce and tenderly protective at once. This observation was shared with EbMaster.

Tampubolon compared this inherent action to familial dynamics in Indonesia, stating, “In Indonesia, it’s common for children to reside with their parents until they turn 30, and there are no issues. However, even when you become an adult, your parents still have a significant influence, which can be comforting yet also overwhelming.”

My journey in bringing my project from idea to reality was greatly facilitated by its involvement with the Southeast Asian Fiction Film Lab (SEAFIC), which no longer exists. I owe a lot to Raymond Phathanavirangoon, a key player at SEAFIC, for seeing the potential in my story. The development of my film through SEAFIC back in 2018 was indeed a pivotal milestone. “I believe it was from there that this story had a chance to become a reality, although it took Mandy [producer Mandy Marahimin] and me six years to finally secure the financing needed to film the movie,” I shared.

The film was shot on location at an actual crocodile park two hours from Jakarta. Tampubolon’s commitment to authenticity extended to the actors’ preparation, particularly when working with live crocodiles. “We went through some safety training,” he said. “Every time we interact with the crocodiles, I always do it first. So just to show them that it is safe, at least if I die, I die first,” he adds with a laugh.

The filmmaker views “Crocodile Tears” as a chance for viewers to delve into a seldom-depicted world on screen. He explains, “In ‘Crocodile Tears,’ you’ll witness a realm that deviates significantly from the usual cinematic or television settings. Think of crocodile parks and individuals who dedicate their lives to caring for these fascinating creatures. Perhaps it’s something they might find intriguing.”

Going beyond its distinctive backdrop, Tampubolon anticipates that the movie’s themes will strike a chord with younger audiences dealing with intergenerational conflicts.

Tampubolon has moved on to his next project, which delves once more into the intricate relationships between parents and children.

After its debut in Toronto, “Crocodile Tears” will be shown at the Busan International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival later on.

Watch the trailer here:

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2024-09-06 13:16