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Not many actors are lucky enough to land a lead role in their first ever feature film – but Iko’s success didn’t stop there, with the film, Merantau Warrior, going on to receive rave reviews from martial arts aficionados, with particular praise heaped on the leading man’s all-action display.
With Iko and Merantau’s director Gareth Evans looking to build on their surprise, early success, we interrupted filming of their follow-up to talk to the man many have dubbed “the new Tony Jaa…”
How did you get into silat martial arts? Who/what are your influences?
Some of my relatives have been practicing silat throughout my childhood, one of which is my master at Silat Tiga Berantai. Being surrounded by people who knew silat, I became interested, so I joined his class, and have been a student of his ever since.
In what ways is silat different to perhaps more well-known disciplines of martial arts such as karate, aikido, or muay thai, for example?
Silat is unique because it has so many different styles, hundreds of different schools. Each school is different from each other. For example, I am from Silat Betawi Tiga Berantai, this silat uses both upper and lower punches and kicks equally as a way of being flexible during attack and defence moves. But there are a few other Silat Betawi that are different from our style, they may have more focus on upper body moves than lower body, or even if their moves are similar, the way they hold their position is different. Also, some silat schools are very closely linked to religious teachings, like, for example, my school of silat follows Islamic teaching, which adds moral spiritual lessons, not simply physical. There is an emphasis on silat not being something you use to fight someone with, but to find a solution in peace - silat is to defend not attack.
Is it true that you once played semi-professional football?
Yes, I've always had a love of football. I continue to play, but not in any professional way - just with friends.
Then you're used to pushing yourself physically?
Yes, that's true, but football alone couldn't have prepared me for the experience of making the film. What helped me the most was my experience in demonstrating silat.
I've been lucky to have been selected to represent Indonesia alongside a team of silat experts in exhibitions and tournaments around the world. The exhibition side helped prepare me for the idea of choreography, which is very different from competitive fighting. We have to convince the audience of each move, but without dealing a dangerous hit to my fighting partner. With every movement being live, and without any break, it helped prepare me for the shooting of Merantau as Gareth wanted to film in long takes with a wide angle for the camera.
The physicality involved in Merantau Warrior must have been demanding, often involving sustained, uncut bouts of combat - did you ever find this to be much of a struggle?
Yes, it was definitely a challenge. So many of the long shots took a long time to get right, with a lot of takes. But I have learned so much from this, and find it a very precious experience that I hope I can build from and improve with each film.
While the movie has been recognised for its action and stunts, at the heart of the film exists a strong moral code, regarding growth and coming of age. Do you feel that is an accurate reflection of silat's ethos?
Yes definitely, like I have mentioned before, when you learn silat, you are taught not just about the physical moves, but also the responsibility about how you use this skill for a good cause. We are also taught discipline and how we should be as human beings to the people around us. The tradition of Merantau is a specific tradition for Silat Harimau from West Sumatra, and it is designed to test those teachings.
What appealed to you about making this film?
I was very excited when I heard about this project because it was the first silat movie after such a long absence from Indonesian cinema.
I am very honoured that I got to be involved in this movie and help popularize silat to an Indonesian audience, and, hopefully, the world.
Did you learn a lot working with director Gareth Evans on Merantau Warrior?
Yes, I learned a lot working closely with Gareth. He taught me many things about movie making.
I was especially interested when we were working on Merantau as we designed the choreography together as a team. It helped me see how to transform interesting movements, and to be selective of techniques to fit the style of a scene. As an athlete, I used to think that all moves can be interesting, no matter what, but now I know that for the purposes of cinematography and editing to be more specific when it comes to choreography design, not just in the movements, but also the pace and drama of the fight.
What work do you have lined up with him for the future?
We are currently working on our second feature, which is titled ‘Berandal’.
Finally, what are your ambitions in the world of film? Do you see yourself trying to break into more mainstream movie making?
I am going to keep working hard to pursue my career in action movies, and one day would love to be able to work alongside internationally renowned action stars - the people who inspired me. DWS
Film: Merantau Warrior
Release date: 26th April 2010
Certificate: 18
Running time: 106 mins
Director: Gareth Evans
Starring: Iko Uwais, Sisca Jessica, Christine Hakim, Mads Koudal
Genre: Martial Arts
Studio: E1
Format: DVD
Country: Indonesia
In the Sumatran region of Indonesia, there comes a time in a young man’s life when he must undertake “Merantau”, a rites-of-passage journey whereby he leaves his village to try and find his place in the world. Writer/director Gareth Evans has taken that premise and spun it into a dangerous adventure.
Yuda’s Merantau starts with a number of setbacks which would have most people running back to their village – the house he’s meant to be staying in has been demolished, there’s no work for a Silat instructor and just now he’s been robbed by a street urchin called Adit. Chasing him through the increasingly narrow alleyways brings Yuda to the point where the momentum of the plot starts to change gears.
Adit’s sister, Astri (Sisca Jessica), is a dancer in a nightclub run by Johnni, and Adit has inadvertently led Yuda (Iko Uwais) there. As Yuda confronts the little thief, Astri and Johnni come out of a side-door, arguing. Turns out, Johnni wants a portion of Astri’s tips. Things get violent, and Yuda steps in. Astri isn’t particularly pleased with her unsolicited knight-in-shining-armour, believing his interference is only going to make things worse. Johnni isn’t too happy either.
Johnni, it turns out, is providing girls to a pair of Eurotrash sex-traffickers called Ratger and Luc, who are in town to pick up their latest shipment of girls. When Ratger points out to him that he’s a girl short, Johnni immediately thinks of Astri as a perfect replacement...
Merantau starts with a deliberate slow pace, grounding the story in context as we are introduced to Yuda, his family and his village life. Evans captures the rolling hills, the grass terraces and the air of tranquillity. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but Yuda is going to sorely miss this lifestyle.
Ratger and Luc get an excellently shot introduction, as they survey the latest consignment for their brothels. Whilst Ratger reclines in a sumptuous looking leather armchair, the girls are given a rather crude medical examination. The treatment of the girls is likely to make your skin crawl. Of the two, Ratger is the hot-headed dominant one, while Luc is the cool-headed voice of reason. When Yuda bursts in and rescues Astri, Ratger demands revenge, but Luc councils a more reasonable course of action – they need to get the girls shipped and don’t have time for vendettas. Of course, Ratger wins out and hires more guys to take on Yuda and get the girl back.
The second half of the film is basically “chase–fight-chase” as Yuda tackles increasingly skilled fighters in his quest to help Astri and Adit. This leads to a scene which could be described as a microcosm of 90s Hong Kong action cinema, when Yuda re-encounter’s Eric. Sparks really fly between these two. Having met and bonded at the beginning of the film, they suddenly find themselves on opposite sides. The ensuing fight, inside the constricted space of an elevator is of epic proportions. As good as the fight itself is, the following unspoken act of honour and brotherhood is even better.
Director Gareth Evan’s approach to the martial arts genre is exactly what fans have been crying out for. Firstly, the fights are choreographed rather than edited together. Secondly, the actors are all proficient martial artists (the exception being Mads Koudal, who has put the time and effort in to ensure he isn’t embarrassed onscreen). And thirdly, the fights are filmed in a straight fashion, rather than the du jour in-your-face shaky-cam. In fact, the length of shots seems to increase as the film progresses, to the point that an attack on Johnni’s bar is a one-take shot which lasts over a minute of screen-time (although the DVD extras point out that that scene in particular took over fifty attempts to complete!).
The acting is very impressive. Iko Uwais was discovered by Gareth Evans when he was making a martial arts documentary and was taken with the young man’s screen presence. It’s certainly not apparent that this is his first film role. Although he doesn’t have a lot of dialogue, he carries it off very well. Sisca Jessica manages to bring some life to a “damsel in distress” role, and delivers a heart-rending monologue about why she and her brother are in the predicament they are in. Yayan Ruhian is another newcomer. He only has a couple of scenes but proves to be very memorable in them.
Best of all, though, is Mads Koudal as Ratger, You can really imagine there are people like him roaming around Jakarta and Bangkok preying on young women with no better futures. It would have been so easy to over-play the part, but Koudal gets it just right, allowing flashes of temper to get the better of him now and again, then reigning back in.
Gareth Evans has studied the competition and delivered a martial arts movie which delivers the drama and acting as much as it does the amazing fights and stunt-work. Fans of the genre owe it to themselves to check this film out, and remember the name of Iko Uwais for the future. MOW
