Harlot's Prayer (2023)

Harlot's Prayer (2023). 1h 57m

“Adapted from the viral novel in 2000s. The original novel, which I read back when it first became popular, was inspired by a true story and was quite eye-opening, as it revealed some dark truths about an Islamic organization. Its realistic portrayal was powerful because it aligned with common rumors about the private lives within such groups that I always heard back then.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUnfortunately, the film version falls far short of expectations. Hanungu0026#39;s ( The director ) approach to exploring the story turns what could have been a gritty, realistic narrative into an over-dramatic, unrealistic and theatrical piece. His direction fails to capture the raw essence of the original novel, instead making it feel like an exaggerated stage play rather than a serious film that aims to uncover hidden truths.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOnce again, Hanung struggles to deliver a truly inspirational movie. The film is made unnecessarily darker, with characters reacting in ways that seem melodramatic and artificial, which strips the story of its authenticity. Itu0026#39;s disappointing to see how such a compelling novel with great potential was turned into a disjointed mess. This is by far the weakest film Iu0026#39;ve seen from Hanung, especially given its origins from a well-regarded and impactful novel.”