Between the maternal love (a recurring theme in the director’s filmography) that feels primal but tender and the loss of innocence, CROCODILE TEARS (Tumpal Tampubolon) addresses the white crocodile in the room with a clever (if not downright esoteric) study of human relationship & intense, fear-inducing drama. The plot, sharp & compact, could sometimes travel beyond the path of reason, but the unsettling atmosphere keeps crawling in the skin, keeping viewers on the edge of the seat — just like Marissa Anita’s transcending performance. A solid debut from the filmmaker.