Hendra Adhi Susanto

Hendra Adhi Susanto isn’t exactly a household name yet, but if you’re into Indonesian cinema, you’ve probably stumbled across his work. Dude’s been making waves with some pretty standout projects. First off, “Mencuri Raden Saleh” (2022) – that one’s a wild ride. It’s a heist film, but not your typical Hollywood knockoff. Imagine a bunch of young, rebellious art students trying to pull off the theft of Indonesia’s most famous painting. There’s tension, there’s chaos, and honestly, the stakes feel real. Hendra’s direction keeps things sharp, bouncing between suspense and those raw, youthful moments that actually matter. Then he flips the script with “Jatuh Cinta Seperti di Film-Film” (2023). This one’s a romantic drama, but not in that sappy, predictable way. It’s about people falling in love, yeah, but it gets into the awkward, messy bits—those moments that make you wince because, let’s be real, who hasn’t been there? The characters feel like you could run into them on the street. There’s a playfulness to the storytelling, a sort of wink at all those movie clichés while still tugging at your heartstrings. Don’t sleep on “Nanti Kita Cerita Tentang Hari Ini” (2020) either. That one’s all about family, secrets, and the things everyone sweeps under the rug until they can’t anymore. The emotions run deep, but it never gets melodramatic. Hendra knows how to let a scene breathe, and the cast delivers in a way that hits home. Altogether, his films give off this vibe: honest, sometimes messy, but always worth your time—like life itself, honestly.