There’s something riveting about psychological thrillers, even if they don’t always have the most shocking ending. Over time, the psychological thriller has adapted to popular culture, and this movie is a perfect example of what I’m trying to say. A Normal Woman tells the story of Milla, a young and attractive woman who is married to one of Jakarta’s coolest men. They have an empire of their own and live a lavish life with Milla’s husband’s mother and their daughter, Angel. Until, one day, Milla starts to dream about a little girl named Grace, and everything changes. There are certainly positives to A Normal Woman. It is a repulsive watch and occasionally feels like it’s trying to work its way into the horror category. But at the end of the day, it’s about how uncomfortable a film like this can make you, and it definitely knocks it out of the park there.
The underwhelming aspects of this film lie in how it pits women against women. I’m sorry, but to me, if a film is trying so hard to speak truth to power about the beauty standards of today with such zeal, then why not focus on women lifting each other up rather than putting each other down? Sure, some of it adds to the discomfort of the leading character, but there’s an almost revenge plotline, which I personally didn’t enjoy one bit. I won’t go into spoiler territory either, but take this as a warning if that’s something that would put you off, too. Additionally, the whole “woman ends up with an unknown mental illness and starts acting unhinged” trope is so overused, it feels uninspiring at this point. Still, there are a lot of things about A Normal Woman that make it a hit in the Indonesian thriller space. I can’t say I’m a fan or an avid watcher, but I’ve seen my share of Indonesian horror in the past year or two, as they continue to get pushed on Netflix. Having said that, I found this film the most entertaining of all the ones I’ve seen, because they’ve all tended to have a similar storyline, and this one definitely stands out in terms of being more rooted in the present than dated.
I did mention that there are notes of horror sprinkled through this movie, and that is specifically in the way that it embodies so well the dominant trend in new-gen horror today—body horror. Am I supposed to categorize this film as body positive? I’m not sure. But I can admit that a lot of the discomfort comes from watching Milla breaking the surface of her skin with her nails multiple times. Honestly, I’m feeling a weird phantom itch on my neck as I’m writing this. I think this is what makes the movie worth a watch, that is, if you’re not wicked out easily. I’m not one to feel disgust easily, but when I see anything to do with disfigured the body, I’m turning the other way for sure.
There are definitely a lot of frustrating moments in the film as well, and this frustration makes you eager to know what’s coming next. There are no dull moments for sure, and I found it quite interesting to see the young girl Angel speak to her mom mostly in English. It somehow makes the film feel more rooted in reality with that one detail. As time passes, the movie definitely makes you reflect on it more. Why did this specific thing happen to the protagonist? What was the meaning of that one moment? Is this person actually evil? You might not have the answers to all these questions, but it definitely makes you think a lot.
At its heart, A Normal Woman is a complex story that definitely addresses a taboo subject in the Indonesian context. This is especially clear in the title of the film and how it’s acting like a mirror to many who may not be realizing that they’ve trapped themselves in lives they never wanted to live. I may be sounding like I’m musing, but I understand that this film is important, and despite my distaste for the one subplot, I still think it’s a film worth watching. Especially because of the straightfaced social critique, and if The Raid: Redemption is your only introduction to Indonesian cinema.
Another thing I’ve noticed in the Indonesian films I’ve watched is the heightened performances. This film somehow feels much more muted and realistic, despite the unrealistic dream sequences and all the blood and gore. Marissa Anita looks beautiful in her luxurious outfits and fits the role very well. Seeing her go from submissive daughter-in-law to mad woman is truly exciting, if not terrifying. She’s definitely got a captivating presence, and everything relies on her. I do have to admit that I didn’t quite like the makeup on her once things started getting bad; I feel like it did look a little bit fake on occasion, but for the most part, it definitely makes you shudder a little bit.
If you’re looking for a bit of world cinema to watch this weekend and don’t mind a psychological thriller, then I would recommend A Normal Woman to you. You’ve got to have a strong stomach for it, though. The film is certainly well crafted, and I quite enjoyed the bits with the oversaturated food colors. If social commentary is your thing, and you’re a girl’s girl, you might want to check this one out and figure out for yourself if it’s a feminist masterpiece or not. As for me, I thought it was flawed, yet still interesting. So I’d give A Normal Woman 3 out of 5 stars.
