Hey everyone! It has been a while since I reviewed a series/movies in this community. This July, I finally found more time to actually sit down and write some reviews of things I have watched last month and to a couple days ago.
For quite a while, I’ve been just spending my time watching movies and series to pass the time. It’s definitely a form of cope but a cope that I have to say is pretty worth it. I have been back subscribing to Netflix just because I got some deals. If you’re here long enough, you know that I love freebies when it comes to streaming. So, this netflix subscription was the same and I even finished squid game 3, maybe I'll talk about it or maybe I don't.
Anyway, about a week ago, I was watching an Indonesian series called Losmen Bu Broto. This Indonesian series centered around an Inn managed by Broto’s family in Yogyakarta. This series was originally a movie that turns into a series on Netflix with different casts and a twist on its storyline.
The Broto family consists of Mr & Mrs Broto, a conservative yet outgoing Javanese couple who own the inn offering authentic Javanese experience in Yogyakarta. The couple has 3 children. Pur, the eldest of the three siblings who is quiet, reserved and works as the head chef in the inn. The second daughter of the family, Sri an aspiring musician who works part time as their inn manager. Then, one of the main characters in this series, Tarjo, a college student majoring in It who undergoes major character development in the story.
The story follows through their ups and downs managing an inn with various guests from all over the world alongside their personal problems. The inn was the background and like a symbolism of life that everything is temporary including problems in our life. Just as the guests that come and go. They are never really permanently living there.
Don't worry if you don't speak the language as this series is also available with its English translation. Even for me, I was watching it with the English translation 😂
Somehow, throughout 8 episodes, we’re taken to experience each of the family’s troubles but centering on Tarjo, the youngest of the family who I think undergo major character development. As the youngest and the only child of Broto’s family who has gone to university, he was the ray of hope in the family that he feels sometimes it’s quite a burden.
The conflict gets more intense when one day a couple from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia comes to their inn. Tarjo, the youngest of the Broto’s family was entangled in a relationship with a woman, older than he is and is actually one of the most esteemed guests in the inn as this woman’s husband is an early and important investor from the inn. Having to fall in love with this woman, Tarjo had to make some decisions regarding his life and even dragging the future of the Inn with him.
Since the setting is in Yogyakarta, it adds more romanticization to the story. To be set in the city that is rich in its culture, it attempts to also highlight javanese ways of living that also stretches to the way of Broto’s family conflict resolution. This series was pretty enigmatic on its own and blending traditionality with modernity into the frame.
When the series ended, I craved for more because this is one of those series that deserves a second and even third season with more different conflict and even something that explores the city more. As for the overall vibe, this is one of the series that attempts to offer comfort, familiarity and appreciating our mundane life. So, if you’re looking for some comforting yet foreign shows, this is a good and recommended one for you.
If you enjoy slice of lice and cultural series/movies, stay tuned for more of my reviews as it tends to be something that I enjoy watching and reviewing as well.
All screenshot are from the trailer.