'Crazy Awesome Teachers': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about Indonesian comedy-drama
With its release affected by the pandemic, the Indonesian film 'Crazy Awesome Teachers' (Guru-Guru Gokil) is skipping movie theaters and will be streamed internationally, including in the US, on Netflix. The film will be available with subtitles in 17 languages, including English, French, Thai, and Japanese. The classroom comedy is set to become Indonesia’s second Netflix original movie after Timo Tjahjanto’s 'The Night Comes for Us', released in 2018. “The comedy-drama will bring our members around the world closer to Indonesia through its story. We will continue to collaborate with Indonesian filmmakers and watch more quality stories from the country,” Netflix director of content for SEA and New Zealand, Myleeta Aga, said in a statement.
Release Date
The film will be released on Netflix on August 17.
Plot
Taat Pribadi, the new substitute teacher, never wanted to teach but took the job at the local high school because he needed the money. But when staff salaries get stolen, he teams up with a ragtag bunch of teachers and students against a dangerous gangster who stole the money from them. Along the way, Taat finds friendship and love, makes peace with his past, and discovers the joys of teaching.
Cast
Gading Marten as Taat Pribadi
Gading Marten plays Taat Pribadi, a reluctant teacher who collaborates with his coworkers and students to retrieve their stolen salaries. He is known for his films 'Test Pack' and 'Love for Sale'.
Faradina Mufti as Rahayu
Faradina Mufti's character Rahayu is Taat Pribadi's love interest in the film. Rahayu is also the staff member responsible for distributing salaries. Faradina Mufti is known for the horror film 'Impetigore', 'Anak Garuda', and 'Love for Sale'.
Dian Sastrowardoyo as Nirmala
Dian Sastrowardoyo plays Nirmala, one of Taat Pribadi's colleagues who he teams up with to retrieve the stolen salaries. The film also marks Dian’s debut as a film producer. Her role as a teenage refugee in 'Pasir Berbisik' (Whispering Sands) won her the 2002 'Best Actress' award at the Deauville Asian Film Festival in France as well as the 2002 Singapore International Film Festival. For her role as a timid-ticket-girl-turned-supermodel in 'Ungu Violet' (Purple Violet), she won the special jury award for 'Most Promising Actress' at the 50th Asia Pacific Film Festival 2005 in Kuala Lumpur. Dian was also in the Netflix film 'The Night Comes For Us'.
The film features a number of other Indonesian stars and up-and-coming actors such as Kevin Ardilova, Boris Bokir, Asri Welas, Ibnu Jamil, and Shakira Jasmine.
Creators
The film is directed by Sammaria Sari Simanjuntak. It is written by Rahabi Mandra and produced by BASE Entertainment, the company behind Joko Anwar’s 2019 horror flick 'Impetigore' and GoPlay original series 'Tunnel', adapted from the South Korean series of the same title.
Trailer
The trailer shows Taat Pribadi looking at his wallet with just a few notes before he takes up a job as the substitute teacher at the local high school. However, his attitude shows that he is far less interested in teaching the students than he is in flirting with the school's cashier Rahayu. But when thieves break in to steal the bag of cash meant to pay the teachers and staff at the school, Taat chases them heroically and even manages to grab the money bag. But the chase is ultimately futile because the thieves shake him off and have a getaway vehicle. This is when Taat's students, hearing about the incident want to help. It is up to the Taat, his students and some of the school's staff, including Rahayu, to track down who stole their money and get it back. When they do track down the money to a dangerous gangster, hijinks ensue. Along the way, there are entertaining moments of love, camaraderie, drama, and action.
If You Like This, You'll Love:
'Bad Teacher', 'Admission', 'Ferris Bueller's Day out', 'Easy A', 'Mean Girls', and 'Clueless'.