The Rainmaker is an avant-garde film full of symbols and obscurity. It is the forbidden love story of Johan, a meteorologist who wants to make artificial rain and Asih, a traditional puppet show singer. Asih is the diva of the village, loved by almost all the village men. Her existence itself is a symbol. However, when she, the symbol, longs to have a special relationship with only one man, problems occur. She loses her voice. A man in the neighborhood hangs himself. The story is rather hard to understand with common senses. It is closer to a theatrical performance. Every single character in the film talks, laughs, and even moves unnaturally. They ceaselessly touch or stare at things, and they move like ghosts. The artificial acting, the strictly calculated angles of the camera and long takes create a peculiar and surreal mood. Sensual bodies are segmented in close-up filming. The digital film is filled with vivid colors stressing the ethnic background. Director Ravi Bharwani is surely a filmmaker for the next generation; the next in line after the renowned Garin Nugroho. (Kang So-won)