समाचार

Explore Monisme (2023), the debut feature film by acclaimed Indonesian filmmaker Riar Rizaldi. Known for his thought-provoking works blending art, research, and cinema, Rizaldi dives deep into the lives of those connected to Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano. Through mixed media and a hybrid narrative structure, Monisme intertwines the stories of volcanologists, miners, shamans, and militias to craft a profound exploration of human interaction with nature, technology, and power.

This review unpacks Rizaldi’s experimental yet accessible approach, his use of multimedia collages, and the philosophical themes underpinning the film. From eerie horror elements to striking philosophical debates and shocking narrative turns, Monisme challenges conventional storytelling to present a unique cinematic experience.

What do you think about Monisme and Rizaldi’s portrayal of Mount Merapi? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Riar Rizaldi is an Indonesian filmmaker who works as an artist and researcher. His films and installations have been shown at various international film festivals as well as at art centers and art festivals such as Centre Pompidou Paris, Venice Architecture Biennale, National Gallery of Indonesia. His short film ‘Tellurian Drama' won the 2020 Silver Screen Award for Best Southeast Asian Short Film and was awarded Honourable Mention at Dok Leipzig 2021. He mainly researches on the relationship between capital and technology, labour and nature, and the possibility of theoretical fiction and uses mixed media resulting in hybrid art works. After his short film and installation ‘Pyroclasts are Eloquent Storytellers'(2020) Riar Rizaldi returns to the subject of Mount Merapi for “Monisme”, his first feature film.

Riar Rizaldi and his team have been researching Mount Merapi since 2018 and while doing so met different people who talked very openly about their connection with the...