Runaway Groom

Runaway Groom (Pemecutan Malay: Mempelai yang Kabur) is a 1784 Pemecutan romantic comedy film. The film highlighted the issue of an arranged marriage that happens to gay men in the country. As Pemecutan society is still preserved its patriarchy culture, marriage is consider a must despite the religion teaching doesn't forcing it. The film was released early this year and met with mixed reviews.

Plot
The film start in the morning of a bustling Ubung city. In one apartment, a male couple is preparing for their day. One is having a shower while the other is preparing the breakfast. The couple then having a breakfast together before they are parted away as they are going to their workplace. The scene fast forward to the night time. The couple is lazing around after dinner. An unexpected call come from the mother of one of them. She wants her son, Astika, to come back home as his father is passed away and the ngaben procession will be held soon. The next day, Astika asked for leave from his workplace. While his partner, Budayasa could only get a leave at the main day of the procession. Astika then go back to his hometown in Sengguan.

Arrived at his hometown, his family welcomed him warmly. It is something unexpected for him after the last time he left them to be with Budayasa. He is then introduce to Chandra, the daughter of his first cousin. He find it odd but doesn't think about it too much as he begin to consumed by the hectic of preparing the procession. But after a while, he become irritated with Chandra as she always goes where ever he goes. He try to ignored her but it become more and more annoying. At the night before the main day of the procession, Astika complaint to his mother about this. The mother said that the family have agree to arrange the marriage between him and Chandra much to Astika surprise. But is not just Astika who is surprise. Budayasa who has just arrived is overhear the conversation. He decided to walk back to Ubung without saying a word but fortunately Astika notice him and stop him from going back. From the look of his eyes, Astika realize that Budayasa hear his conversation. Both of them share the night with a mix feeling.

The ngaben procession run smoothly. But Budayasa always find himself on the sideline as Chandra is always there between him and Astika. Chandra even try to feed Astika in front of him when they are still at the cemetery waiting for the fire. Budayasa back home with anger. They have a huge fight which is heard by both Astika's mother and Chandra. Both seems to like it. But when Astika convince Budayasa that he is against the marriage, the mother intervene. She accused Budayasa to bring bad luck and negative influence to Astika. She is also said that she will never ever approved of their relationship. The mother then ask Astika to choose between his mother or his lover. Astika become confused. While B have to catch a bus to Ubung as tomorrow he will have to go back to work. Astika promised him to wait for him. Budayasa recall of his past memories with Astika as the bus drive him to Ubung. He arrive home and suddenly fall crying.

Back at Sengguan, the mother insist Astika to continue the arrangement. Chandra also doesn't want to letting Astika go. Without Astika permission, Chandra send a letter of resignation of Astika to his workplace with the mother supervision. Astika is persuade to find a job in Sengguan. While his relationship with Budayasa become stranded as Astika can't give him an answer when he will be back to Ubung. One day, Budayasa got a mail from Sengguan where there are a lots of Astika's pictures together with Chandra. A letter which accompany the mail demand him to stay away from Astika as he is already happy with Chandra. Budayasa feel devastated. The next day, he packed all of Astika's belonging and send it back to Sengguan. Astika is shocked after receiving the package of his belongings. The mother trick his mind by saying that Budayasa might already forgotten him and he already have another men there. Heartbroken, Astika agree with the arranged marriage.

The marriage date is set and preparation is make tremendously. It is the marriage of her only son. It has to be grand. On the first day of the wedding procession, Astika is still in the dressing room as he is waiting for a cue if the bride is ready at her house to be pick up. When bride's family called that everything is ready, Astika got a call from his friend, Panji. He ask him where he is. He also inform him that Budayasa is in the hospital after overdose of sleeping pills. Knowing this, Astika abandon the marriage procession and rush to the bus terminal to go to Ubung. The mother try to stop him but to no avail.

Everyone is looking at him strangely as he is already wearing a wedding attire. After 3 hours later he safely arrive at the hospital. But he is still afraid to enter the room. Panji notice Astika and drag him over. He says that the critical moment has passed but he is still unconscious. Panji left them both. Astika seat next to the hospital bed. He takes Budayasa hand and crying heavily. He then kiss Budayasa's forehead and whisper to his ear, "wake up sleeping beauty. Your prince is here." And suddenly, Budayasa's hand give a reaction. Astika shouts for the doctor.

A week later, Budayasa is finally discharge from the hospital. Astika drive them home to their apartment. On the way home, Budayasa ask Astika if he will regret his choice. Astika held Budayasa's hand and firmly say, "never will I". Then he jokingly say that they are almost broke because Astika left everything in Sengguan and he doesn't get a job yet. Budayasa smile widely and say, "I think we can manage".