Summary
This dystopian thriller offers a compelling, if depressing, story about revenge, desperation, and hope.
Based on the namesake novel by Sabda Armandio, 24 Hours with Gaspar is an Indonesian action thriller where the titular protagonist spends his final hours seeking revenge for his childhood friend. After premiering at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival, the movie directed by Yosep Anggi Noen made its way to Netflix. The film features an ensemble cast of Indonesian stars, including Reza Rahadian, Shenina Cinnamon, Laura Basuki, and Kristo Immanuel.
Hope Shines Through In A Gritty Dystopia
Set sometime in the future in Indonesia, the film’s plot revolves around the titular Gaspar, a private investigator somewhat involved in an underground Fight Club-type endeavor with his friend, Agnes. Gaspar recently uncovered a mass grave his government tried to cover up. While looking into it, he finds one of his informants was murdered along with further evidence in a decades-long missing persons case. When he was a child, his best friend Kirana disappeared without a trace.
Our hero’s investigation leads him to believe a local jewelry store owner, criminal, and Kirana’s father, Wan Ali, had something to do with what happened to her. However, Gaspar has a heart condition and, according to the Fight Club’s resident doctor and Mohican enthusiast, only has 24 hours left to live (hence, the title).
Like any self-appointed detective living in a dystopian world, Gaspar chooses to spend his final hours planning a heist of Wan Ali’s jewelry store. He recruits Agnes, his friends Kik and Njet, Bu Tati, Won Ali’s sister-in-law, and her son, Yadi, to punish the evil jeweler for all his wrongdoings.
From the first few scenes, we learn how grim and brutal the world Gaspar inhabits is. It’s unclear how we got there, something to do with a plague and a corrupt government. But its inhabitants are doomed to a life of poverty and violence. The gritty present-day imagery stands in perfect contrast with the light and optimistic flashback scenes from our protagonist’s childhood.
This is a fast-paced action thriller that does a good job of instilling a sense of urgency in the protagonists’s actions. Sure, the 24-hours-until-death is a bit gimmicky, but it’s as good a catalyst as any to offset Gaspar’s revenge path.
Reza Rahadian is excellent in 24 Hours with Gaspar
Reza Rahadian is excellent in his portrayal of a jaded man who has one final mission to complete. As a self-proclaimed detective, Gaspar tries to make his corner of dystopia just a tiny bit better. But as soon as he’s put on a timer, he moves towards seeking revenge. The rest of the cast is brilliant and we’re even treated to mild comic relief from Dewi Irawan and Sal Priadi’s performances as a dysfunctional mother-son duo.
24 Hours With Gaspar is a decent thriller likely to keep you interested until the credits roll. It’s got an interesting premise, it’s visually sound, and the fight scenes are impeccably choreographed. However, the narrative feels scattered at times. The filmmakers include several themes and ideas during the first half, such as Agnes’s Fight Club, only to drop them in time for the great heist.
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