A One Mann’s Movies review of “Crocodile Tears” (2024) (From the 2024 London Film Festival).
Original Title: Air Mata Buaya.
A movie with a genuinely interesting setting… a real-life crocodile park outside of Jakarta, “Crocodile Tears” is a rather melodramatic tale, but one that had me interested throughout. This is the joy of the LFF…. getting to watch ‘small’ international films that I would probably never get to see normally.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
“Crocodile Tears” Plot Summary:
A mother (Marissa Anita) and twenty-something-year-old son Yusef (Yusuf Mahardika) run a crocodile amusement park in Indonesia. The whereabouts of their husband/father is the stuff of local legend. The pair have a close, almost stifling, relationship which is threatened when Yusef meets and falls in love with the beautiful Arumi (Zulfa Maharani).
Certification:
UK: NR; US: NR. (This has not yet been rated by the BBFC. I would expect it to be a ’15’ based on some sexual content and scenes of violence to chickens!)
Talent:
Starring: Marissa Anita, Yusuf Mahardika, Zulfa Maharani.
Directed by: Tumpal Tampubolon.
Written by: Tumpal Tampubolon.
Running Time: 1h 38m.
“Crocodile Tears” Summary:
Positives:
- A great setting generates an ominous backdrop to the drama.
- An interesting and well-paced story.
- A great twist at the end!
Negatives:
- The drama sometimes wanders into the overly melodramatic.
Review of “Crocodile Tears”:
Jaws open…
Apart from the small sequence in “Live and Let Die” (oh, actually, they were Alligators!) this is the only movie I know of that is filmed in a reptile park. It makes for a superbly eerie setting in the opening of the film, as the camera pans across a lake filled with big crocs, their eyes glowing in the camera lights. For we are in psychological thriller territory here. The relationship between Yusef and his mother is very reminiscent to me of that between Norman Bates and his dear grey-haired old mum. Whilst there is nothing ickily sexual going on, the mother cuddles up to Yusef each night in the bed that they share. Yusef is trapped and frustrated, both physically and sexually (the opening scene is straight from “American Beauty”).
This is why the introduction of Arumi to the mix is so incendiary. Their first meeting is well handled by the film with Arumi holding out her hand to shake his mum’s hand which is then, cringingly, just left hanging.
…Snap!
It’s clear that the mother is being pushed to some sort of breaking point. She is already, obviously, suffering from some sort of mental disturbance as she is to be found in the middle of the night curled up and sobbing by the White Crocodile enclosure. (The mother has a particular connection to the White Crocodile, for reasons we won’t go into.)
Arumi is a strong, confident women as demonstrated by when she sees off some taunting young men on scooters during her own scooter lesson. You can see the timid Yusef absorbing all of this and seeing what a doormat he has become to the demands of his domineering mother. The stakes are raised yet again later in the film… but I will leave that for you to discover for yourself.
The subsequent action plays out in a slightly melodramatic style, but is engaging and well-filmed by debut writer/director Tumpal Tampubolon. A final showdown is both predictable but terrifying with an incapacitated Yusef slithering crocodile-like along the floor.
The film ends with a twist: a shot that made me physically gasp. It was splendid!
Triggers
There are themes of abortion and suicide that might be triggering for some people. Also, note that at some points live chickens are fed to the crocodiles which might be upsetting to animal lovers.
Summary Thoughts on “Crocodile Tears”
A really solid debut that deserves a watch. I enjoyed it.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
At the time of writing, this film wasn’t available on the Justwatch database.
Trailer for “Crocodile Tears”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNtNhvEeskQ .
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