Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens
Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens (transl. Ali & the Queens of Queens) is a 2021 Indonesian comedy-drama film directed by Lucky Kuswandi, written by Ginatri S. Noer and Muhammad Zaidy and starring Iqbaal Dhiafakhri Ramadhan, Marissa Anita, Aurora Ribero and Nirina Zubir.[1][2] Ramadhan portrays the son from a divorced household visiting his mother (Anita) at New York City to reconcile.
| Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens | |
|---|---|
![]() Netflix release poster | |
| Directed by | Lucky Kuswandi |
| Written by |
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| Starring |
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Production company | Palari Films |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date |
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Running time | 100 minutes |
| Countries | Indonesia United States |
| Languages | Indonesian English |
Plot
In Jakarta, 17-year-old Ali watches his dying father, Hasan, die of heart attack. Ali's mother Mia left them for New York City (NYC) when he was five. Initially believing that Mia had passed away, Ali finds letters, postcards, and flight tickets for Ali to visit Mia in New York, which Hasan hid from him. Ali reveals his desire to search for his mother in NYC, and after intense discussions, his helicopter aunt Suci gives him two weeks to find Mia. He visits an apartment in Queens where his mother stayed previously and meets her friend Party, who works as a cleaner. Party shares the same apartment with Biyah, a Bondho Nekat-turned-paparazzi; Ance, a single helicopter mom; and Chinta, a masseuse. Compensated with money, they pledge to help Ali's search for Mia. They also guide Ali through NYC, and Ali helps them in their jobs so that they can earn US$10,000 to open an Indonesian restaurant, Ratu Ratu Queens (transl. Queens of Queens). While shopping, Ali develops a crush on Eva, Ance's daughter born in New York.
Through a friend, Biyah learns that Mia resides in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Ali decides to visit her, who is shocked at his presence and slams the door. Ali also learns that Mia has a new husband, Alex, a son and daughter. The next day, Ali re-attempts to engage with her and reveals Hasan's death. Mia expresses her condolences and shares her phone number. Ali and Mia meet up in a cafe near Ali's apartment, and the two spend some time together but end awry as Ali asks his mom to include him in her new family; she says this could ruin her household. She also reveals that Hasan never fully understood her, prohibiting Ali from flying to New York with the ticket she purchased.
Ali invites Mia to a Thanksgiving dinner at her old apartment. Mia feels taunted passive-aggressively by Biyah, Ance, and Chinta on Mia's actions when Ali shows up at her doorstep. Feeling guilty, she hands a US$20,000 check to Party, directed towards Ali, and informs Party to convince Ali to return to Indonesia. Assuming Party and her friends are only after his money, Ali expresses betrayal and leaves the apartment. Mia reveals that she indeed provided the check, reasoning that she cannot abandon her new family and wants Ali to return. She tearfully responds that the more she meets Ali, the more guilty she feels for leaving him. Ali reluctantly asks her to disown her. Mia tearfully confesses that she has been a terrible mother and tells Ali to hate her, hoping that he would leave.
Ali meets up with Eva, who asks him to go back to the apartment. Ali does so the following day, and shows Party, Biyah, Ance, and Chinta a video he edited using videos he recorded while living with them, expressing his apology and positivity. All of them reconcile, and Ali accepts them as his new family. In the end, Ali is accepted into a local university, and Mia confides in private to Alex about Ali. In a mid-credits scene, Ali's cousin flies to NYC to meet Ali upon Suci's demand.
Cast
- Iqbaal Ramadhan as Ali
- Marissa Anita as Mia, Ali's estranged mother
- Aurora Ribero as Eva
- Nirina Zubir as Party
- Tika Panggabean as Ance
- Asri Welas as Biyah
- Happy Salma as Chinta
- Bayu Skak as Zulpang
- Ibnu Jamil as Hasan, Ali's deceased father
- Cut Mini Theo as Bude
- Arief Didu as Pakde
- Reza Rahadian
Release
It was released on June 17, 2021, on Netflix streaming.
Accolades
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesian Film Festival | 10 November 2021 | Best Picture | Muhammad Zaidi and Meiske Taurisia | Nominated | [3] |
| Best Director | Lucky Kuswandi | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Iqbaal Ramadhan | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Asri Welas | Nominated | |||
| Marissa Anita | Won | ||||
| Best Original Screenplay | Ginatri S. Noer | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Batara Goempar | Nominated | |||
| Best Film Editing | Aline Jusria | Nominated | |||
| Best Visual Effects | Rivai Chen | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound | Yusuf Patawari, Wahyu Tri Purnomo, and Pat O'Leary | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Score | Mar Galo and Ken Jenie | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Song | Bam Mastro for "Never Look Back" | Nominated | |||
| Iqbaal Ramadhan and Tarapti Ikhtiar Rinrin for "On My Own" | Nominated | ||||
| Best Art Direction | Eros Eflin and Roxy Martinez | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design | Karin Wijaya | Nominated | |||
| Best Make Up and Hairstyling | Marshya D. Martha | Nominated |
References
- "'Ali and Ratu Ratu Queens' review: female leads shine in heartwarming if clichéd Indonesian family drama set in New York". NME. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
- "Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens". Common Sense Media. 30 June 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- Retno, Dewi (10 October 2021). Marvela (ed.). "Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens dan Penyalin Cahaya Dominasi Nominasi FFI 2021" [Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens and Photocopier dominate 2021 Indonesian Film Festival nominations]. Tempo. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
