Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The ninth Asian Film Festival, organized by the Asian Consuls General Club (ACGC), concluded with the screening of Indonesian film titled "Surga Yang Tak Dirindukan (The Undesired Heaven)" at the residence of the Indonesian Consul General Darmakirty Syailendra Putra here at the weekend. A traditional Indonesian dance presented by students of Indonesian school Jeddah and welcome remarks of the consul general preceded the screening of the film. Syailendra Putra thanked all the ACGC members for attending the event and briefly spoke about the film. The film is adapted from a best selling novel by one of Indonesia's most productive female writers Asma Nadia. It is a story of a woman (Arini) who has for sometime managed to nurture a happy family, but then has to face a bitter fact that her husband marrying another woman. The film is about two wives and their man who was living with his first wife and daughter happily. The man met a woman trying to commit suicide. He helped her and married her secretly to save her and her baby's lives. Consul General Syailendra Putra, also coordinator of ACGC this year, hoped that screening of a number of Asian films will offer an opportunity to others to learn about the cultures of Asian countries. This festival, he said, offers a comprehensive knowledge and helps in cultural exchanges between all countries. Following the screening of the film, a food festival featured cuisines from Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia, drawing the film festival to an end. Prizes were also awarded to lucky draw winners and movie enthusiasts. Diplomats from various countries, Saudi entrepreneurs and public figures as well as a group of artists and filmmakers and media personalities attended the event. The festival which began on Feb. 25 and ended on March 11. Ten films from Japan, Pakistan, Korea, China, Sri Lanka, India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia featured in the festival.
