Home / Arts and Entertainment / Generational Trauma Unravels in Indonesian Family Drama
Generational Trauma Unravels in Indonesian Family Drama
30 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Three generations of women grapple with inherited identity in 2011 Yogyakarta.
- A daughter returns home to confront her mother, grandmother, and sister.
- The film explores loss, traditions, secrets, and generational trauma's impact.
Kanya Iwana's directorial debut, 'Ibu,' is set to premiere at the JAFF Future Project, focusing on the complex dynamics within a three-generation Indonesian family. The narrative centers on Maya, a widow who prioritized tradition over her own ambitions, and her daughter Tash, who fled to Los Angeles seeking freedom.
Upon Arief's death, Tash returns to Yogyakarta, where she confronts not only her manipulative mother but also her formidable grandmother Dewi and teenage half-sister Inez. The family's hidden tensions erupt during a prayer ceremony, revealing long-suppressed fears and secrets that have shaped their lives.
The film, a co-production between Indonesia and the U.S., intricately explores themes of loss, tradition, stigma, and the pervasive effects of generational trauma. Iwana aims to depict the raw journey of breaking these cycles, highlighting the universal desire for love and acceptance.
