A captivating story of a woman's multifaceted struggles, Before, Now & Then has touched the hearts of local and global audiences alike. The film won Best Feature Length Film and Best Cinematography at the Festival Film Indonesia 2022. It also earned critical acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival and, most recently, at Camerimage. This stunning period drama was the result of a close-knit collaboration between director Kamila Andini and DP Batara Goempar ICS.
Before, Now, & Then tells the story of Nana, who, years ago, escaped from an anti-communist purge in Indonesia, leaving her murdered father and presumably dead husband behind. In stark contrast to her past, the film features Nana living a comfortable life after remarrying a plantation owner. However, peace is still out of reach as her turbulent history constantly haunts her in her dreams.
A Before, Now & Then still of protagonist Nana
Unlike Goempar's previous works, such as Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens, Cadet 47, and Perfect Stranger, this slow-burn narrative was uncharted waters for him. Nevertheless, he was eager to take on the challenge. It's a different genre for me, but I like it. It's better when there is diversity, and we should embrace a variety of filmmaking in Indonesia, the DP says.
Replaying how he and Andini planned the look, Goempar explains: When I talked to Kamila, she wanted to add a certain coldness to the film, as if there's always a void. At first, I suggested using desaturated colors as a theme, but she was adamant about still having a stylistic approach.
An early scene from the film: Nana with Mr. Darga and Dais
With this in mind, texture became a major element of the film. We have shots with, and sometimes behind, sheets of Vitrase (Indonesian translucent laced curtains). We added colors through the wardrobe and production design. In the end, despite being a lonely film, the visuals were filled with colors and textures, and this huge contrast added a lot of richness to the look, the award-winning cinematographer continues.
Citing his favorite part of the film, Goempar chose one of the first scenes. At the beginning of the film, there's an excerpt of Nana going through her routine in the house. It sort of builds upon the narrative of how women should stay at home and follow a fixed set of household responsibilities. I love this scene because it subtly dictates how the entire film will proceed, says Goempar. We didn't do a lot of dynamic camera movements, mainly static shots, but each cut, from scene to scene, was edited very carefully with utmost patience. Every shot was slow and cinematic.
DP Batara Goempar with the ALEXA LF and Signature Primes behind the scenes
Another creative decision that was made early on was how the team would handle the dream or hallucination sequences. The film is called Before, Now & Then' because it represents the complexities of a woman's difficult past, present situation, and what she sees in her future. Usually, filmmakers would do separate tones to depict each period, but Kamila wanted the cinematography to merge. We wanted reality, hallucinations, and expectations to flow together naturally, shares Goempar.
When asked about his choice of equipment, he exclaims: Honestly, the only camera and lenses that can fulfill my shooting style are the ALEXA LF and ARRI Signature Primes. That's the reason why I have been using them constantly for almost four years. They feel like home. Not to mention, it's always a good investment for the producers to shoot large format for the future.
DP Batara Goempar with director Kamila Andini shooting an outdoor scene
I can always get more immersive images with the ALEXA LF and a softer look with Signature Primes. It feels like a magnifying glass. I can see up close and capture the actors' emotions and nuances, but there is still a decent distance between us. Even in silence, you can see Nana's expression and body language. Happy Salma, the actress who plays Nana, started in theatre, and she's very expressive with her gestures, Goempar adds.
As for the Signature Prime's focal length, Goempar prefers to work with fewer lenses than most, limiting his choice to only the middle range, usually between 35 mm and 75 mm. I'm not a fan of switching lenses too often, he explains. As an audience, when you watch these types of films, you don't want to be distracted by the frequent lens change. The main focus is not on the technical composition but on the story we want to tell.
Before, Now & Then is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Related Products ALEXA LF Large format, high speed, fully featured
ARRI Signature Prime Modern Lens. Timeless Look.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
07/01/2026
SVG Summit 2025: All General Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAYThe SVG Summit celebrated its 20th edition with a loaded agendaBy Brandon Costa, Directo...
07/01/2026
NBCU's Brings Rinkside Live' and Courtside Live' Features to Peaco...
07/01/2026
Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...
07/01/2026
We know people use Spotify not just to listen, but to share the songs, podcasts, and audiobooks they love with their friends and family. When we launched Messag...
07/01/2026
This week, all eyes are on the podcast industry as the Golden Globes recognizes ...
07/01/2026
Podcasts are stepping onto a new stage this week as the Golden Globes recognize the medium for the first time. To mark this milestone moment, we're hosting ...
07/01/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), in collaboration with a distributor, is commissioning new micro-budget fiction feature films and invites eligible...
07/01/2026
NASA's Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft launches on the Artemis I flight test, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, from Launch Complex 39B at ...
07/01/2026
For the first time ever, new C' variants allow international users to interoperate with U.S. personnel via NSA-certified cryptography....
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
07/01/2026
Abu Dhabi, UAE 7, January 2026 - Abu Dhabi Police and Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), ...
07/01/2026
Back to All News
The Trailer of Paparazzi King: The 5-Episode Docuseries Coming...
07/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Supports Warner Bros. Discovery Board's Commitment...
07/01/2026
Back to All News
What Next? Netflix Reveals Series, Films and Games Coming in 2026
Entertainment
07 January 2026
Global
Link copied to clipboard
Download ...
07/01/2026
AI has transformed retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) operations, enhancin...
06/01/2026
Peacock Bringing Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos to Live Sports ContentPeacock is the first streamer to embrace Dolbys full suite of advanced picture/sound innovat...
06/01/2026
SVG Europe Audio: Listening to the sounds of powder and ice at Milano Cortina wi...
06/01/2026
Quintar Meta Spatial SDK Integration Promises Next-Level XR ExperiencesBy Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 - 9:41 am
Print This...
06/01/2026
Milano Cortina 2026: BBC Sport Previews Broadcast Ops, Studio Setup, Social Medi...
06/01/2026
Dolby's Jason Power on Elevating Live Sports Through Immersive Audio and HDR...
06/01/2026
DAZN's Global CRO Walker Jacobs on the Streamer's Breakout Year in the U...
06/01/2026
California Dreamin': LA28's SVP of Media Jim Bell Previews the Olympic a...
06/01/2026
One Month Out From Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, NBC Sports in Final Prep fo...
06/01/2026
Advanced HDR by Technicolor and Zinwell Integrated onto ATSC 3.0 Conversion Boxe...
06/01/2026
Fox Sports President and COO Mark Silverman Shifts to Consulting RoleBy Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 - 2:37 pm
Print This S...
06/01/2026
Spotify is launching a week-long celebration spotlighting creators at the center...
06/01/2026
Lorde. A$AP Rocky. JENNIE. Baby Keem. KATSEYE. That's just a taste of who...
06/01/2026
In a live broadcast, L3Harris CFO and Missile Solutions President Ken Bedingfield joined Morgan Brennan on CNBCs Closing Bell: Overtime. Bedingfield discussed...
06/01/2026
First-of-its-kind SSP capability delivers program-level insight and brand suitab...
06/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
A captivating story of a woman's multifaceted struggles, Before, Now & Then has touched the hearts of local and global audiences alike. The film won Best Feature Length Film and Best Cinematography at the Festival Film Indonesia 2022. It also earned critical acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival and, most recently, at Camerimage. This stunning period drama was the result of a close-knit collaboration between director Kamila Andini and DP Batara Goempar ICS. 
