This City Is a Battlefield

10/31/2025

Adapted from the novel by Mochtar Lubis, Perang Kota marks Mouly Surya’s long-awaited return — and honestly, it’s such a joy to see her back in the director’s chair. After waiting so long for its release, there are several things I truly love about this film: its lavish production design that brings us back to the post-independence atmosphere of the archipelago, the beautifully composed score that enhances the mood and deeply supports the narrative, and the performances of the three leads — calm yet intense, soulful, and emotionally vulnerable. What didn’t quite work for me were the overused long takes that felt unnecessary in some scenes, and a few characters that seemed underdeveloped, making them feel somewhat shallow. The love triangle subplot also didn’t add much tension to the