The night before the 911 attack in New York City, there was a fine and happy family celebrating their little girl’s birthday. It was such a happy night, when the father gave a special present to their lil girl, Sarah, and it was a magical book. He said something to his daughter about how the majestic book can make her happy, and never sorrow in her life.
The scene then proceeded to the next morning, September 11, when the father got a package from a friend, then hugged Sarah tightly and said: This is my final day.
Then few minutes later, we saw the rumble of the WTC building.
I was so happy last nite that I had a chance to see this movie. A movie that being sparked as the movie that will give and picture the real Islam and Muslim, apart from the frenzy media that keeps talking about the negative and dark side about Islam. I am a Muslim that also getting to the crossroad, being confused, as well as bit by bit losing pride as a Muslim following the bad portrait about Islam, my noble faith. I live in a secular environment where my colleagues, my friends, my workmates are mostly non Muslim, or if they are Muslims, they are the secular ones. Even, the recent incident in Paris has made me shy and losing face to say to my boss: ‘Sorry I need to pray Ashar, in the middle of a crucial client meeting’, since I am afraid he would see me as a militant Muslim.
In the first place I have been so like, alone in this kind of feeling about my faith. Is it true that Islam, the noble faith I profess teaches to kill each other? Is it true, the holy Quran teaches that way to our fellow men? I can only be silent and try not think about that until I found the movie, and previously I read the book.
Hanum and Rangga also again, this is like coincidence, released the movie in the middle of a backlash against muslims after Donald Trump, the notorious USA President candidate called out to drive away the Muslims around America as he perceives Islam teaches to murder, as the consequence of Paris attacks and San Bernardino, Calif, shooting. As I understood, Bulan Terbelah di Langit Amerika is a semi fiction story about 911 where Hanum and Rangga had a chance to interview some of the family victims of 911, who happened to be also Muslims. The wife, Azima Hussein suffered a deep distrust about her faith. But the lil girl still has faith that the man who gave her a magical book never lied to her.
Last night, I have been hosted with the beauty of Islam. Islam teaches the noble and most profound important thing of a humanside: Giving. It’s sad to see Abe, Ibrahim Hussein died in that tragedy. However, I feel like this is a bitter sweet story at the end… to witness the miracle of Allah and His blessing to those who give and give.
However, the movie has some lacks of value production, especially the acting of the extra character, even, the actor who plays Phillipus Brown seems to be soo ‘kaku’ and not convincing, as I hoped Phillipus Brown being the key person to unlock the mystery. Sarah Hussein? I love her as in the book she is really a nice girl, but sadly (I am sure this is because the language handicap) Hailey Franco also plays a bit ‘kaku’ when encountering with Acha and Riyanti. I really hope that Sarah should be the most happy girl in the end, but, unfortunately the happiness that she feels only delivered in a body language. This maybe the contribution of the directing by Rizal Mantovani that is less remarkable comparing to 5cm.
For the rest, Acha and Abi, as usual really play well as a couple and teach us, the married, to have more understanding each other in order to avoid conflicts. Nino Fernandez, is the man who steals the movie! He is just really great to become an annoying but loveable character in this movie! And, Hannah? I also watched Comic 8 and from the beginning, I knew that Hannah will be a bright star in the future.
So… my recommendation: watch Bulan Terbelah di Langit Amerika and find your own miracle.!
