Indonesian teen movie is a hit in Malaysia

Many things Indonesian - from casual wear to shoulder-length hair, poems and incomprehensible Jakarta slang - have become a craze in Malaysia thanks to Ada apa dengan cinta? ('What's with love?') an Indonesian film about teenage angst. The movie took its young viewers, well-heeled but in many cases emotionally drained, by storm when it was shown last month.

The film is about teenage love, quarreling and making up with a kiss - nothing that easily explains its phenomenal success.

The film enjoys a cult following and sales of CDs and other merchandised products are brisk. Teenagers are adopting wholesale the mannerisms, style of dress and the Jakarta-speak of the film's hero and heroine.

Even director Rudi Soedjarwo, 31, who made the film on a US$400,000 (HK$3.12 million) budget is stunned by its success. In Indonesia, Ada apa dengan cinta? outgrossed Titanic and The Lord of the Rings and it held the top spot for weeks in Malaysia.

'The film goes straight to the heart of our youths,' said leading film critic Samira Sahuri. 'Every youth now wants to walk, talk and dress like Rangga and Cinta.'

Rangga, played by Nicholas Saputra is the street-wise, shaggy-haired, guitar-toting rogue who loves American jeans and sneakers and is never seen without an Oakley bag over his shoulder. He writes poems and woos Cinta, played by Dian Sastrowardoyo. She is the perfect modern girl - rich, pretty, intelligent and confident and always seen in Nikes. She drives a Volvo to school.