Based on a best-selling novel by Andrea Hirata, Laskar Pelangi The Movie, or The Rainbow Warriors has gained many more popularity than its novel. The novel has been read by more than 1 millions people, and more people want to see it on screen. Many said that film is more popular medium for conveying issues and ideas than books in Indonesia as the society is still regarded as 'a viewer society' rather than 'a reader society'. That's why the film rapidly became a box office, a blockbuster in Indonesia cinema. It was starred by local children who previously never had experience in movie industry...that's what made their acting seemed natural and innocent.
This film portrayed the story of a gang of poor Indonesian children who struggled to get basic education who lived in a beautiful remote island near Sumatera, Belitung Island. The island was reknowned as Indonesia's main tin producing region region in 1970s. Yet, the local people did not have opportunity to gain prosperity and wealth as their limited education had made them work only as laborers with little wages. The children suffered the most as they sometimes had to work with their parents. This situation was captured throughout the film.
Yet, poverty and discrimination in education did not break the spirit of the ten children of Laskar Pelangi. They struggled to get an education in poor Islamic Elementary school that only had three teachers. The school was ill-equipped and was not regarded as 'adequate' for schooling. The building was almost collapsed and when it's raining, water would flow in. Together with their two teachers, they shared some bittersweet memories...they laughed, cried and played together.
Despite, their inadequate schooling, these children could gain outstanding achievements by winning an art and intellegence competition. The saddest part was when Lintang (The Star) had to drop out of the school at the age of 11 when his father died so that he could take care of his three sisters. As the eldest and the only male in the family, he had the responsibility to support his whole family. I cried at this part 
Education for all is really what is echoed throughout the movie. Poor children also have the right to have access for education...Thus, this movie is regarded as the best film of the year...Two thumbs up for the director and producer who had made the novel alive on screen...
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