EXCLUSIVE: Japan’s Nikkatsu is launching sales of Jeremias Nyangoen’s Black Coffee, with Indonesian stars Reza Rahadian and Sha Ine Febriyanti playing a blind couple longing for a child.
Inspired by a true story, the drama follows the couple who live a simple independent life as coffee farmers. It is set against the cultural backdrop of the Gayo Highlands in Central Aceh, featuring traditional Didong art and distinctive natural landscapes. The cast also includes Asmara Abigail, Kabri Wall and Hafidz Al Mukhtariza.
“It’s a film about hope, the desire of a blind married couple to have a child in their old age, and about how human beings continue to struggle in life, whether in family relationships or in the simplest dreams they hold,” said director Jeremias of his second feature, which is produced by Heart Pictures.
“What drew us to Black Coffee was the universality of its themes,” said Emico Kawai of Nikkatsu’s international sales team. “We decided to come on board not simply as a Japanese company handling an Indonesian film, but as a partner representing an exceptional drama by a talented filmmaker.
“While Indonesian cinema has already established a solid market presence, we feel that many arthouse dramas from the region still remain undiscovered internationally.”
The deal was negotiated between Kawai and Nora Mediana of Moxienotion, a Jakarta-based international strategy consultant.
Nikkatsu previously handled Indonesian film Headshot and Japan-Indonesia co-production The Man From The Sea by Koji Fukada, whose latest film Nagi Notes plays in Competition at this year’s Cannes.
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