Rhythmic Exercise with Priadi

Rhythmic Exercise with Priadi invites the audience into the world of early-2000s satellite television in Indonesia. The short piece is an ode to childhood nostalgia and a reflection of growing up in an environment that blatantly endorsed toxic masculinity. The narrative follows a daily exercise program sponsored by the Indonesian government to promote fitness.

The central character, Priadi Abadi (Patty Setiadi), has an eccentric personality that shines through in every frame and instantly draws the viewer into the daily exercise program. It's evident that the quirky and fun dance routine attracts many viewers daily because it appears engaging at first, and this is reflected profoundly in the material. The physicality and energy on display from each dancer is exciting to witness, and the tone maintains its charm and satirical nature throughout. However, once the exercise gets underway, the camera angles and framing of each dancer become uncomfortable to witness as a viewer, due to the emphasis on the sensuality of the female body. It's a scathing indictment of the broader television culture of the early 2000s with camera angles and movements that intentionally focus on the dancers' bodies.

Sebastian Aldo Widjaya, serving as the film's cinematographer, primarily frames the piece from wide-angled shots of the dancers and intentionally switches to extreme close-ups of the women’s bodies to emphasise how revealing the different variations of the exercises became. The switch to handheld in the narrative’s final third is also commendable, giving the final moments a more visceral edge. It may prompt the audience to view the dance routine through an entirely different lens, as the filmmakers intentionally sought to convey a visual framing shaped by the male gaze, reflecting the television culture of early-2000s Indonesia.

One of the most impressive aspects of the experience is how well the filmmakers balance the comedic and dramatic tones while delving into provocative themes of toxic masculinity and childhood nostalgia. The piece is clearly visualised through the lens of nostalgia and sheds light on a form of media that has rarely been represented before. Despite the heavy tonal shift in its final third, it's incredibly well executed and never feels jarring, thanks in large part to how visually arresting it is. That said, the narrative isn't given enough breathing room to flesh out its themes and ideas and abruptly concludes.

The performances are commendable despite most of the runtime committed to the dance routine. Patty Setiadi’s portrayal of Priadi Abadi is a standout, as he effortlessly commands the screen while bringing an impressive physicality to the performance. Raina Abigail’s portrayal of the female coach is incredibly nuanced and energetic when the material takes a more sinister turn, and she’s easily one of the most memorable aspects of the experience.

Rhythmic Exercise with Priadi is an enticing experience that pulls the viewer into a quirky dance routine from the early 2000s. The piece tackles its themes of toxic masculinity and the male gaze profoundly while capturing the essence of childhood nostalgia through a mature lens. A thought-provoking experience that pulls the rug from under the viewer with incredibly evocative imagery and memorable performances.