Review of Films "Negeri 5 Menara"

Ahmad Fuadi's best seller novel, entitled "Negeri 5 Menara" is a motivational novel that has succeeded in impressing its readers with interesting stories in modern pesantren. This novel is the first novel from the trilogy which also tells the story of the warriors of dreams in realizing their dreams.

In this novel tells the life of a "I" named Alif Fikri. A Minangkabau child who has a great desire to continue his education at Bukittinggi High School. But that desire cannot be realized by Alif because his children do not agree with the reason that life in high school cannot support Alif's knowledge of the Islamic world. At first Alif did not accept amak's decision that was not in line with him. But one day Alif received a letter from his uncle who worked in Egypt named Etek Gindo. He suggested Alif to continue his education at a boarding school in Java called Pondok Madani. Through a long thought, Alif agreed with the advice of Gindo Uncle Etek, and that means he also agreed to the opportunity of his Amak to continue his education at a boarding school. Alif made this decision because he was interested in the story of his uncle in Egypt who also graduated from Pondok Madani, where they were so fluent in Arabic, English and had a good future.

Eventually Alif went to register at Madani Islamic Boarding School with her father. At that time Alif realized if he was still in half-hearted thoughts and decisions. On the way to Pondok Madani, Alif thought whether he would be strong with the pesantren life which he said was quite heavy? How long can it last? Anxieties still faithfully visited the brain and heart at that time.

Arriving at Pondok Madani. Alif registered and took a series of tests, until finally he passed the selection and was accepted as a new student at Pondok Madani. During the trip and the initial introduction process of Pondok Madani, Alif met with 5 other new students, namely Said, Raja, Atang, Dulmajid, and Baso. Through an unexpected meeting of the journey to Pondok Madani, selection, and finally becoming an official student at Pondok Madani, they made close friends, where they encouraged and mutually complemented each other's weaknesses and strengths.

The uniqueness that is in Pondok Madani makes Alif forget her half-hearted feelings about Islamic boarding school. He began to believe if his choice to continue at Pondok Madani was the right choice. Day after day he passed in Pondok Madani really turned him into a better character than before. Although there are many regulations that must be implemented, Pondok Madani gives him many lessons on the meaning of a struggle, the benefits of time, and the magic of dreams. Together with the 5 other friends, Alif always took the time to look at the clouds under the minarets. They imagine as if the cloud is shaped the same as a country of their dreams. Starting from their habit of discussing masadepan under the tower of Pondok Madani mosque, they finally gave the nickname for their friendship with the nickname Sahibul Menara. Sahibul Menara Friends is a small part of the group of people who are in a strong belief in the magic of a sentence uttered by the Kiyai Pondok Madani which reads "Man jaddah wa jaddah" (anyone who is serious will surely succeed).

The advantage of this novel is that it can increase public knowledge about the life of the pesantren. With this novel, the author can convey a real picture of the life of modern pesantren which teaches and even requires students to deepen foreign languages ​​(English and Arabic). This novel can also provide motivation to readers through the encouraging sentences in it.

The advantage of this novel is that it can inspire young people today to be more eager to achieve their ideals and submissiveness towards parents. This novel also changes our mindset about the life of Islamic boarding schools that only study Islamic religious knowledge. Because in this novel in addition to studying religious knowledge, it also turns out to learn general knowledge such as English, Arabic, art, and so forth. We also get a valuable lesson that is, never underestimate a dream as high as any, because God Almighty hears prayers from His people.

The weakness of this novel is, the story in the novel seems flat with conflicts that are not too visible in the storyline, so that the reader feels not challenged by the existing conflict.