Dear David is a brand-new Indonesian high school drama movie that premiered on February 10, 2023, on Netflix. Directed by Lucky Kuswandi and written by Winnie Benjamin alongside Daud Sumolang and Muhammad Zaidy, the movie surrounds a student and her journey of self-acceptance. Meiske Taurisia and Muhammad Zaidy are the producers.
Shenina Cinnamon as Laras takes up the lead role in the movie alongside Emir Mahira taking up the titular character, David. Caitlin North Lewis also stars as Dila in the film. The film’s cinematographer is Robert Cauble, and Maksal Mina gives the music. It has a total runtime of approximately 120 minutes.
The official Netflix synopsis of the movie reads as follows:
A straight-A high schooler’s life is turned upside down when her risqué fantasy blog about her crush is leaked to everyone at school.
-Dear David Review Contains No Spoilers-
Going into the movie, I expected the usual teenage drama, which consisted of a typical storyline, but the execution made it stand out from the rest. The creators were mindful of including a plot with which the current generation, known as Gen Z, can relate. In a superficial and shallow world, young people are often lost in the rush and need a story they can see themselves in.
However, the story is not revolutionary but still unique. The world of fan fiction is the only escape for a straight-A student, but she finds herself in a conundrum when her secret is leaked online for the entire world to see. She manages to put herself in more undesirable situations further to save herself and her family the embarrassment.
The story’s slow-paced progression, with a seamless build-up and sombre music, elevates the storytelling process. Besides the major plotline, the movie consists of sub-plots involving the three main characters and showcases the issues that teenagers of today’s society face. Laras is fighting a battle with herself for self-acceptance, David tries to escape his past, and Dila falls prey to rumours and bullying.
Including themes of mental health and homosexuality in mainstream media is important as it helps create a conversation and normalise it. The issues were not dealt with comprehensively and were merely added to showcase the diversity and keep up with the modern-day media. Nevertheless, it was handled with sensitivity without creating an adverse outlook on the situation.
Moreover, adding music in a few scenes was an excellent choice, allowing the actors to express their emotions freely. The scenes shifting from everyday life to a fantasy world are accomplished with the sudden colour changes, which creates a perfect ambience and makes it enjoyable for the audience.
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Shenina Cinnamon, as Laras, did a phenomenal job of displaying the sentiments of a girl who lost her way. Caitlin North Lewis maintains her character throughout the movie and steals the show with her expressive acting abilities. Other supporting and recurring actors also did an adequate job and delivered what the script demanded.
Dear David Review: Final Thoughts
The story of a young girl struggling to maintain relationships and academics as her whole life flips upside down suddenly after a shocking revelation. Many important subjects are included, and it is expected that the target audience, the young generation, will find it extremely relatable. However, if you are searching for a film with an original story that does not require much thought, this one is just for you!
Dear David is now streaming on Netflix.
Did you watch the movie yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!