Badut-Badut Kota

Dedi (Dede Yusuf), who married Menul (Ayu Azhari), when they were very young, tries to make a living as a clown at an amusement park. This job does not pay enough for him to make ends meet, so he and a number of his friends try to find a way out of the poverty they are trapped in. The opportunity comes when they find a the wallet of a wealthy man, who is impressed when they return it to him, and provides them with the capital to open a food stall, which they use as a stepping stone toward opening a restaurant. Through this story, the director, Chairul Raya, attempts to depict the way of life of the poor, while using the subplot of the love story between the clown and his wife to display his disdain for the mainstream tendencies in the Indonesian film industry. This film is at once moving and humorous.

Directed by Ucik Supra, Badut-Badut Kota leans on a strong ensemble — Ayu Azhari, Dede Yusuf, Dien Novita — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1993.