Following months of protest by the Indonesian film community, the Indonesian National Film Advisory Board (BP2N) has withdrawn the Best Film and Best Director awards given to Ekskul and Nayato Fio Nuala.The board announced its decision to revoke the awards at a June 28 news conference because the musical score was apparently lifted from several Hollywood movies.
The film was generally panned by critics “mainly due to its many plot holes, unrealistic settings and characterizations, overly-flashy editing style.” Still the film won the 2006 Indonesian Film Festival’s Citra Award for Best Picture.
The awards outraged many in the Indonesian film industry leading to protests and past winners returning their trophies.
The movie is about a high school student who is bullied by day and abused by his parents at home. He lashes back by taking students hostage. A 10-minute chunk is available on YouTube.
Nuala’s most recent film is Nagabonar Jadi 2, in which he starred as well as directed.
