| Merry Riana: Mimpi Sejuta Dolar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Hestu Saputra |
| Written by | Alberthiene Endah |
| Based on | Mimpi Sejuta Dolar |
| Produced by | Dhamoo Punjabi Manoj Punjabi |
| Starring | Chelsea Islan Dion Wiyoko Kimberly Ryder Ferry Salim Niniek L. Karim Sellen Fernandez Mike Lucock Cynthia Lamusu |
Production | MD Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Languages | Indonesian Malay English |
Merry Riana: Mimpi Sejuta Dolar (English: Merry Riana: A Million Dollar Dream) is a 2014 Indonesian biographical drama film directed by Hestu Saputra and written by Albertine Endah. This film starred Dion Wiyoko, Chelsea Islan, Kimberly Ryder and Ferry Salim. The film is based on the book Mimpi Sejuta Dolar also written by Endah. The film tells the story of Merry Riana living in Singapore because of the May 1998 riots of Indonesia, and her journey to becoming a successful motivator.[1][2]
The May 1998 riots of Indonesia mostly targets the ethnic Chinese. In Jakarta, 17-year-old Merry Riana's family flee to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, where her father sells items to buy Merry a boarding passtoSingapore, asking her to study and live happily there. There, she meets high school friend Irene, who shelters her illegally at her dorm room. She was later caught, and after a discussion, Merry decides to study at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in order to legally stay at Irene's room. However, she must pay the S$40,000 student loan. Irene's friend Alva promises to be her loan guarantor, but asks that she get a job. After a frustrating endeavour, she becomes a brochure sharer, although Alva has signed the agreement anyway. Because she does not have a student pass, the store was later taken down.
Irene has a crush on Alva and plans a date with him, however Alva accompanies Merry finding a new job, and they fall in love. Merry is hired at Success Forever, a company which promises instant monetary miracles. However, it turns out the company was a scam. Alva tells her that failures are essential for success. He brings her to the Singapore Flyer, where she replaces Alva as janitor. Alva proposes to her by showing a novel titled s.h.m.i.l.y ("see how much I love you"), but Merry rejects. Irene kicks Merry out the dorm for being with Alva at the Flyer, seemingly romantically. Later, Irene leaves the dorm for Merry on anguish. Merry moves on from Irene, motivated by Alva, who shows her an online trading platform she can profit from.
OnValentine's Day, Alva plans to propose Merry. Merry tells Alva of airline she can trade with. He disagrees, calling out her greed. Merry says that she is done being poor, assuming Alva has never been poor. Triggered, Alva leaves, and hands the wedding ring to an old street artist. Later, the airline filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Merry's mother came to Singapore and tells her that she must finish what she started. She later becomes an insurance agent; one of her customers, Mrs. Noor, helps her pay ¼ of the loan. She also reconciles with Irene. One day, the street artist gives Alva's wedding ring to Merry who happens to be passing by, revealing that Alva referred to her as "Shmily Merry." Merry tells Alva that she loves him and apologises for her arrogance; Alva accepts. They then graduate and marry.
