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Photocopier (2022) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Photocopier (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 130 min · Indonesian
Echo score 82
JustWatch #24,579 6
Directed by
Wregas Bhanuteja
Starring
Ruth Marini, Chicco Kurniawan, Dea Panendra, Giulio Parengkuan, Jerome Kurnia, Lukman Sardi

A student’s academic future is threatened when scandalous secrets emerge online. Determined to clear her name and discover the truth behind a compromising party, she seeks help from a seemingly ordinary photocopy shop clerk. Together, they navigate a web of deception and unexpected alliances as they work to uncover the mystery and restore her reputation.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (6)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Photocopier
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Photocopier (2022)

Where can you watch Photocopier? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Netflix and Netflix Standard: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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6 main characters · contains spoilers

Photocopier Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Photocopier (2022), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Sur (Shenina Cinnamon)

    Sur is a determined college student with a passion for technology and theater. Despite her struggles with scrutiny and personal trauma, she exemplifies resilience and resourcefulness. Her journey of self-discovery, from a party girl to an empowered activist, showcases her growth and determination to seek justice.

    • 📚 Student
    • 🎭 Theater
    • 💪 Resilience
  • Amin (Chicco Kurniawan)

    Amin is Sur's friend who supports her during her ordeal. Running a photocopy service, he is portrayed as resourceful yet entangled in unethical activities. His loyalty to Sur is tested as they expose a deeper plot at their college, revealing his dual nature as both a help and a complication in her journey.

    • 🛠️ Resourceful
    • 🖨️ Complicated
    • 🤝 Loyalty
  • Farah (Lutesha)

    Farah serves as a mentor-like figure to Sur, warning her against potential dangers. She reveals her own traumatic experiences, paving the way for solidarity among the victims. Her transformation from a cautious guide to an active participant in the fight for justice showcases her depth and strength.

    • 👩‍🏫 Mentor
    • 🚨 Caution
    • ✊ Strength
  • Rama (Giulio Parengkuan)

    Rama is the antagonist whose manipulations and predatory behavior unravel the story's central conflict. His character represents the darker sides of artistic ambition and power dynamics in college settings. The revelations about his actions prompt the struggle for justice and the reclaiming of dignity.

    • 🎨 Antagonist
    • 🚫 Manipulative
    • 🌪️ Conflict
  • Tariq (Jerome Kurnia)

    Tariq is a complex character who becomes entangled in the narrative as both a potential ally and a source of conflict for Sur. His past experience with abuse complicates his motivations, positioning him as a key player in the fight to expose the truth about Rama's actions.

    • 🤔 Conflicted
    • 🔍 Suspicious
    • 👥 Ally
  • Anggun (Dea Panendra)

    Anggun is a supportive friend who aids Sur in her investigation, exhibiting loyalty and camaraderie throughout the ordeal. Her willingness to confront the uncomfortable truths alongside Sur exemplifies the theme of unity among victims.

    • 🤝 Friendship
    • 🔍 Supportive
    • 💡 Insightful

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:30

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Setting

Where and When Does Photocopier Take Place?

The setting of Photocopier (2022): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The movie takes place in contemporary times, reflecting modern-day college life, social media influences, and the struggles against predatory behaviors in educational institutions. The timeline follows the rapid progression of events leading to a campus scandal that is amplified by technology and youth culture.

Location

Kyoto, Campus, Siti's Place

Kyoto is a historic city in Japan known for its classical Buddhist temples, as well as gardens, imperial palaces, and traditional wooden houses. The setting of a festival adds a cultural layer to the narrative, showcasing the vibrant artistic scene on campus where students engage in theater and performance arts. Siti's place becomes a pivotal location for regrouping and strategizing against the adversity they face.

  • 🏙️ City
  • 🎭 Theater
  • 🏫 Education

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:30

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3 major themes

Photocopier Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Photocopier (2022) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Empowerment

    The theme of empowerment is central to the narrative as Sur transforms from a victim into a determined advocate for herself and other victims. The collective effort to reveal the truth plays a critical role in reclaiming their identities and standing up against abuse. The story highlights how shared experiences can foster unity and resilience among marginalized individuals.

  • Justice

    Justice is a pervasive theme, as Sur and her friends work to expose the wrongdoing of those in power. The film addresses the challenges of seeking justice in a system that often silences victims. Their journey illustrates the importance of confronting injustices and the necessity of standing together to uphold moral principles.

  • Investigation

    The theme of investigation underscores Sur's quest for truth amidst confusion and betrayal. As she navigates through complex relationships and her own vulnerabilities, the investigative process becomes a crucial element of her character's growth. It reflects the larger narrative about uncovering hidden realities and challenging societal norms.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:30

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Character & theme questions

Photocopier Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Photocopier (2022): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie Photocopier set?

Photocopier is set in Kyoto, Japan, a historic city known for its classical Buddhist temples, gardens, imperial palaces, and traditional wooden houses. The story takes place primarily on a college campus and at a photocopy shop that becomes a central location for Sur and her friends to strategize against the adversity they face.

  • kyoto setting
  • campus location
  • japan
  • siti's place
Q2

When does Photocopier take place?

The movie takes place in contemporary times, reflecting modern-day college life in Japan. The narrative is grounded in current issues including social media influences, technology's role in amplifying scandals, and the struggles against predatory behaviors in educational institutions.

  • contemporary
  • modern day
  • college era
  • japan university
Q3

What is the main theme of empowerment in Photocopier?

Empowerment is central to Photocopier, as Sur transforms from a victim into a determined advocate for herself and other victims. The collective effort to reveal the truth plays a critical role in reclaiming their identities and standing up against abuse. The story highlights how shared experiences can foster unity and resilience among marginalized individuals.

  • empowerment
  • sur transformation
  • survivor solidarity
  • victim advocacy
Q4

How does Photocopier explore the theme of justice?

Justice pervades the narrative as Sur and her friends work to expose the wrongdoing of those in power, particularly Rama, a predatory figure in their college. The film addresses the challenges of seeking justice in a system that often silences victims. Their journey illustrates the importance of confronting injustices and standing together to uphold moral principles.

  • justice
  • exposing predator
  • rama
  • college abuse
  • institutional betrayal
Q5

What role does investigation play in Photocopier?

The investigation theme underscores Sur's quest for truth amidst confusion and betrayal. As she navigates complex relationships and her own vulnerabilities, the investigative process becomes crucial to her character's growth. It reflects the larger narrative about uncovering hidden realities and challenging societal norms around abuse in academic settings.

  • investigation
  • truth
  • sur uncover
  • deception
  • revelation
Q6

Who is Sur in Photocopier and what is her role?

Sur, played by Shenina Cinnamon, is the protagonist - a determined college student passionate about technology and theater. She transforms from a party girl into an empowered activist as she seeks justice after becoming a victim of sexual predation. Her journey represents self-discovery, resilience, and advocacy for herself and other victims.

  • sur
  • shenina cinnamon
  • protagonist
  • activist
  • victim
Q7

Who is Rama in Photocopier?

Rama, played by Giulio Parengkuan, serves as the film's antagonist - a predatory figure whose manipulations and harmful behavior unravel the story's central conflict. His character represents the darker sides of artistic ambition and power dynamics in college settings, using his position to prey on students.

  • rama
  • giulio parengkuan
  • antagonist
  • predator
  • villain
Q8

What is Amin's role in Photocopier?

Amin, played by Chicco Kurniawan, is Sur's friend who runs a photocopy service. He is portrayed as resourceful but entangled in unethical activities. His loyalty to Sur is tested as they expose a deeper plot at their college, revealing his dual nature as both a help and a complication in her journey for truth.

  • amin
  • chicco kurniawan
  • photocopy clerk
  • friend
  • ally
Q9

Who is Farah in Photocopier?

Farah, played by Lutesha, serves as a mentor-like figure to Sur, warning her against potential dangers. She reveals her own traumatic experiences, paving the way for solidarity among the victims. Her transformation from a cautious guide to an active participant showcases her depth and strength in the fight for justice.

  • farah
  • lutesha
  • mentor
  • survivor
  • supportive character
Q10

What is Tariq's role in Photocopier?

Tariq, played by Jerome Kurnia, is a complex character entangled in the narrative as both a potential ally and source of conflict for Sur. His past experience with abuse complicates his motivations, positioning him as a key player in the fight to expose the truth about Rama's actions.

  • tariq
  • jerome kurnia
  • complex character
  • abuse survivor
  • ally
Q11

Who is Anggun in Photocopier?

Anggun, played by Dea Panendra, is a supportive friend who aids Sur in her investigation. Exhibiting loyalty and camaraderie throughout the ordeal, her willingness to confront uncomfortable truths alongside Sur exemplifies the theme of unity among victims and the importance of standing together.

  • anggun
  • dea panendra
  • supportive friend
  • loyalty
  • investigation help
Q12

What is the tone and mood of Photocopier?

Photocopier has a consistently dark and serious tone centered on exploitation and abuse, with a pervasive sense of threat from a trusted authority figure. The movie is devoid of humor or romance, focusing entirely on tension and the emotional gravity of the crimes. The intensity is high due to the disturbing subject matter of sexual predation.

  • dark tone
  • serious mood
  • sexual predation
  • abuse themes
  • threat

Movie threads

More Movies Like Photocopier, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Photocopier tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Survivor Investigation Thrillers like Photocopier

A single-minded quest to expose a powerful conspiracy after a personal violation. If you were gripped by the methodical investigation in Photocopier, this list features movies with similar narratives. Discover other tense thrillers where survivors of trauma take matters into their own hands to expose conspiracies and fight against corruption, often facing great personal risk.

  • investigative
  • tense
  • paranoid
  • cathartic
  • serious
  • dark
  • Tone: dark, tense, serious
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a protagonist, typically a survivor of a traumatic event, who methodically gathers evidence and challenges a seemingly untouchable system. The plot is driven by their increasing paranoia and determination, leading to shocking revelations and a confrontation that tests their resolve.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by the powerful central arc of a victim becoming an investigator. They share a tone of righteous anger, a steady pacing that builds tension through discovery, and a heavy emotional weight stemming from themes of betrayal and the fight for justice.

Slow-Burn Corruption Thrillers like Photocopier

Tense, methodical stories exposing deep-seated rot within trusted systems. For viewers who appreciated the slow-burn exposure of institutional rot in Photocopier, this collection highlights similar movies. Find tense, serious dramas that methodically uncover betrayal and abuse of power within trusted settings, creating a palpable sense of anxiety and moral outrage.

  • slow burn
  • tense
  • anxious dark
  • serious
  • investigative
  • paranoid
  • Tone: dark, serious, tense
  • Pacing: steady, slow burn
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives begin with a seemingly isolated incident that, upon investigation, reveals itself to be part of a widespread, protected pattern of misconduct. The story unfolds steadily, layering clues and encounters with reluctant witnesses or hostile gatekeepers, building towards a climactic exposure.

Why they belong together: This thread connects films through their shared mood of pervasive anxiety, a dark tone focused on abuse of power, and a steady pacing that allows the gravity of the corruption to sink in. They are united by themes of betrayal by trusted systems and the high-stakes battle for truth.

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Movies Like Photocopier

Similar movies to Photocopier: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Photocopier (2022) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Photocopier in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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