• Drama
• History
• Romance
• Thriller

Gowok: Javanese Kamasutra 2025

Gowok: Javanese Kamasutra is a 2025 Indonesian period drama/historical romance directed by one of the country's most acclaimed filmmakers, Hanung Bramantyo, and inspired by the centuries-old Javanese erotic teachings found in the Serat Centhini. The plot is a visually lush, multi-decade story set primarily in the 1960s, revolving around the practice of the Gowok—a revered guide hired by aristocratic families to teach young, pre-marriage men about sexuality and satisfying a wife. The central narrative follows Ratri (played by Alika Jantinia and later Raihaanun), a young woman being trained as a Gowok who betrays her teacher, falls deeply in love with her first pupil, Karmajaya (Devano Danendra/Reza Rahadian), a wealthy, idealistic young man, and is ultimately betrayed herself. Her heartbreak leads her to fully embrace the demanding role of a Gowok, setting the stage for a tragic, generations-spanning tale of revenge, class conflict, and thwarted female ambition, which escalates into melodramatic, operatic horror in its final act. The film features a strong cast of major Indonesian actors, including Raihaanun as the adult Ratri, Lola Amaria as the mentor Nyai Santi, Devano Danendra and Reza Rahadian playing the younger and older Karmajaya, respectively, alongside Djenar Maesa Ayu and Donny Damara. Critically, the film has received acclaim on the international festival circuit (premiering at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and showing at the New York Asian Film Festival), with reviewers praising its opulent production design, beautiful cinematography, and the powerful, nuanced performances of the lead actresses. Though the title suggests explicit content, critics noted the film is "tasteful to a tee," focusing on the tragic romantic and social drama over sexual titillation, but acknowledging its daring confrontation of patriarchy and female agency. It has also received multiple nominations at the Indonesian Film Festival 2025 (FFI). As a major independent Indonesian production, its box office figures are significant domestically, but its international release has been predominantly through festivals, with no wide global theatrical release. It officially premiered in Indonesia on June 5, 2025, and had a limited US release on July 15, 2025. Regarding streaming, the film is not yet widely available on major global platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but its festival success and strong domestic performance suggest it will be acquired for international streaming in late 2025 or early 2026. Read More

• 2025
• 2 h : 12 min
• 823 views
• 6.723
• TV-MA