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I’d been waiting to watch this movie even before it hit theatres in Indonesia. Sheila Dara Aisha is starring (and yes, I could look at her face for hours), plus the premise sounded intriguing. When the film went viral in Indonesia—at least according to my TikTok For You Page—I had major FOMO. So when it finally came to Malaysia, of course, I rushed to catch it during its opening week.
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| Look at her face. So pretty, I want to be her when I grow up. |
And first things first: to everyone who shared Hall 6 at GSC 1Borneo with me on 28th September, 5:30 PM showtime—I owe you an apology. Yes, I was that girl in seat C11 who cried through the entire movie, even during scenes that weren’t supposed to be sad. My bad.
Premise
Imagine waking up one morning to find a stranger lying next to you—who then claims to be your future spouse. Naturally, you wouldn’t believe them. But what if they knew everything about you, even your most hidden quirks? That’s exactly what happens to Jonathan, the male lead. He wakes up to find Sore by his side, calmly insisting she’s his wife from the future. In exchange for making his life easier, she asks him to stop smoking, drinking, and start living healthily.
At first glance, the setup promises a sweet, quirky romance with a time-travel twist. But the film isn’t really about sci-fi mechanics—it’s about the emotional weight of love, choice, and change.
Themes
On the surface, it’s fate + romance with a sprinkle of time travel. But beneath that? Pure emotional torture (in the best way).
The movie keeps circling two painful questions:
1. If you love someone enough, can you change them?
2. If they refuse to change, do you have the strength to keep choosing them anyway?
Watching it felt exhausting in a strangely beautiful way. Hopeful, but tiring. Because, like in real life relationships, Sore keeps going back, trying again and again to help Jonathan become better—and failing. You find yourself asking, how long can this go on? If I, as an audience member, feel drained, how much heavier must it be for Sore? I could hear the audience sigh every time Sore resets everything from the beginning. Exhausting as it was, that was the point of the film.
And that’s the film’s rawest truth: love is choosing someone over and over again, even when it hurts. Ten times. A hundred times. A thousand times. Until you’re not sure if you’re saving them or losing yourself.
Characters & Chemistry
Sore is certain, grounded, and strong-willed. Jonathan is confused, hesitant, and overwhelmed. Their relationship isn’t about dazzling chemistry—it’s about the grinding reality of love’s work. Many viewers complained their spark felt muted, but that makes sense: this Sore belongs to Jonathan’s future self, the man he hasn’t become yet. The disconnect isn’t a flaw; it’s the point.
Sure, audiences crave the rush of a traditional romance. But for me, Sore’s unwavering determination—and the deep love fueling it—was far more compelling than any swoon-worthy moment.
Personal Reflections
By the time the credits rolled, I wasn’t just thinking about Jonathan and Sore—I was thinking about myself. About how love means choosing someone again and again… but also hoping they choose you with the same strength. About how love alone can’t transform someone who doesn’t want to change. And maybe, choosing someone doesn't always mean saving them. Choosing someone means that you'll stay, through the highs and the lows, especially the lows.
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| Picture by Farhangga |
Sore: Istri dari Masa Depan isn’t perfect, but it lingers. It’s the kind of film you’ll keep revisiting in your head, long after you’ve left the theatre, and for me, was added to my favourites list.
Recommended for the hopeless romantics, the sentimental souls, and anyone who listens to Sheila On 7’s Hingga Hujung Waktu on loop (because yes, I’m convinced the song inspired this story).
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