UMS Communication Science Student Wins First Place in Tempo Film Review Competition

A student from the Communication Science Study Program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), Muhammad Farhan, has earned a proud achievement at the national level. He won First Place in the Panjat Pintar 2.0 film review competition organized by Tempo Institute.

Farhan reviewed the Indonesian drama film Pangku, streaming on Netflix. His critical essay caught the judges' attention because it didn't just break down the film's cinematography and narrative structure, it also managed to connect the film to discourse and social phenomena currently being widely discussed in the public.

Farhan said the initial idea for his review grew out of his own personal unease while watching the debate among social media users over the "cowok provider" (provider boyfriend) phenomenon that had been widely discussed at the time. In his view, everyday public debate often gets stuck on shallow, technical issues, when there's actually a far more fundamental crisis underlying it.

"On social media, people often argue over small things, like who pays on a date or what financial criteria a partner should meet. But the much more fundamental issue is a crisis in the qawwam role, or leadership, among men. In Islamic teaching, the principle of ar rijalu qawwamuna 'alan nisa clearly sets out what men's responsibility, ethics, and role should be. The film Pangku reflects that crisis of role quite precisely, in today's social context," Farhan said on Saturday (19/9/2026).

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Farhan also carried out an in depth close reading of the film's script to produce a sharp, objective review. He watched the film twice, taking notes on important details, before putting his argument together. He completed the entire process, from research through to writing the final review, gradually over the course of one week.

"I'm the type of writer who likes to work on a piece bit by bit. If you add up the actual writing time in one sitting, it's probably around five hours, but I spread the process of letting ideas settle and building the argument over a week, so the analysis could mature more," he added.

Although he admitted feeling surprised by the announcement, given how tight and prestigious he considered the competition to be, the win stands as proof of the quality of critical thinking UMS students bring to responding to works of art and social issues.

In closing, Farhan offered encouragement to fellow students, urging them not to hesitate to start creating and testing their own abilities.

"The key is simple: be brave enough to try, and enter a competition first. Don't get too caught up worrying about winning or losing. What matters most is having the courage to actually produce real work, and to keep sharpening your abilities through consistent practice and evaluation," he concluded.

Writer: Rifat Akhtar

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid