Filmmaker Returns to Directing After Decade-Long Family Break

Filmmaker Ariani Darmawan has returned to directing after a ten-year hiatus spent raising her family. Her latest feature, "Jani Be Good," is a poignant exploration of four women spanning three generations. The narrative unfolds over four days in December, centering on 13-year-old Jani after her older sister leaves home. Jani finds solace in her grandmother, Oma, as their single mother, Winnie, struggles with work and household responsibilities. The film, co-written by Darmawan and Cyntha Hariadi, aims to portray the complexities and exhaustion inherent in familial care work. Darmawan reflects on her own childhood, realizing the immense effort her mother put into maintaining their household only after becoming a parent herself. She emphasizes that family conflicts are universal, regardless of gender, and that suppressed disagreements can deeply wound relationships, passing down issues across generations. "Jani Be Good" was filmed over 13 days in Bandung, Indonesia, with the four lead actresses not knowing each other prior to production. The film's producer, Taurisia, praised Darmawan's mature perspective on womanhood and motherhood. Palari Films, the production company, is using the film to test its "Palari Community Class" initiative, aiming to empower local film communities to organize screenings. This initiative addresses the broader challenge of film distribution in Indonesia, where distribution networks across the archipelago are lacking. Darmawan, who also founded an independent library, plans to continue directing, focusing on themes of complex and relatable human relationships.