Jakarta. The romance fantasy movie “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” is taking its audience on the big, bold, beautiful journey of two strangers as they relive their past and eventually fall in love. But Kogonada seems to have a clear picture of how he wishes to tell the story, paying a heartfelt attention to the visuals and the sound department. 

“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” puts two household names on the same screen: Colin Farrell (David) and Margot Robbie (Sarah). David is an unhappily single guy in his late 30s, while Sarah is someone who has been running away from love to avoid getting hurt. They first met at a mutual friend’s wedding. The story directs them to travel in a GPS-equipped rental car to imaginary doors that act as portals to their past, even dating back to their high school days. The movie clocks in at almost two hours and runs on a script written by Seith Reiss.

Kogonada partners with cinematographer Benjamin Loeb to deliver the visual storytelling. The film has a strong use of primary colors: red, blue, and yellow, but these striking visuals are not just for aesthetics. 

The color blue represents David, while the red represents Sarah. At their initial meeting, David dons a blue suit, while Sarah stuns in an all-red outfit. Remember: the journey is not only about revisiting old memories, but it also allows the couple to learn about each other at an unimaginable level. They get to see the other person’s insecurities and the life events that have shaped their character -- a privilege that real-life couples wish for. Many people who have been together for years don’t even truly know their partner because the other person -- or both -- don’t want to talk about the past.

The more Sarah learns about David as their relationship develops, the bluer her outfit becomes. These changes start small, a navy newsboy cap and blouse that is still dominated by the striped red coat. She eventually wears a blue top in a theater-like monologue to her late mother. David has essentially become a part of Sarah. That’s what happens when you fall in love. The significant other eventually becomes a huge part of your life.

However, when the relationship goes sour, Sarah reverts to red as they drift apart. After they walk down memory lane on their own, the couple eventually find their way back to each other. It is only in this final scene that they finally wear each other’s colors. They have accepted both themselves and their partners. 

Do note that the gradual color changes only happen with Sarah. The audience has to wait until the very last scene for David’s switch to red. But this “late transformation” might reflect David’s character. We learn that David tends to walk away from relationships when they get serious. The last nostalgic trip -- in which David talks to his teen self as his own father -- has given the much-needed impetus to overcome his emotional block.

When I first watched the film, I had no idea that Kogonada had picked the legendary Joe Hisaishi to helm the acoustic department. No wonder that the songs feel like it has teleported you to animator Hayao Miyazaki’s world. The tunes spark one’s curiosity, and you can’t help but want to see what lies behind the imaginary doors. It’s also the kind of music that makes me want to embark on my very own big, bold, beautiful journey.

“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” is now playing in movie theaters. There are currently not many romance films out right now, so there is a bigger chance for Indonesians to pick Kogonada’s film.