‘Ibuku’: Asian Shadows Boards World Sales on Eddie Cahyono’s Busan Competition Title Starring Christine Hakim

Asian Shadows has taken on world sales duties for Eddie Cahyono’s “Ibuku,” a new film starring Christine Hakim that has been picked for the Competition lineup at the Busan International Film Festival. The deal gives the Hong Kong-based sales company exclusive rights to handle the title internationally.

The film centers on Sumiati, a widow in her 60s living alone in a small Javanese village. Her husband took his own life, leaving her isolated in the community. Her daughter, Sri, left Indonesia years ago for work, fleeing an arranged marriage and an abusive spouse. Now word comes that Sri is facing execution in Saudi Arabia after killing a man who tried to abuse her.

Sumiati sets out on a desperate hunt for the funds to reach her daughter one final time. She gets help from village chief Djatmiko, played by Landung Simatupang, who connects her with Indonesian officials and journalists. The story follows how a mother copes with her daughter’s absence, drawing on Cahyono’s research into Indonesian migrant workers who leave for the city or abroad to escape financial hardship at home.

The film also touches on the domestic violence and forced marriages some families face in the absence of those who have gone away. Shot on 16mm, “Ibuku” traces the lives of the families left behind.

Hakim’s Long Career

Christine Hakim has been working in film for more than five decades. Her credits include “Tjoet Nja’ Dhien,” “Eat Pray Love” and HBO’s “The Last of Us.” Ayushita Nugraha plays Sri, and she has appeared in “What They Don’t Talk About When They Talk About Love” and “Kartini: Princess of Java.” Landung Simatupang rounds out the cast, with film work including “Gie,” “Soegija” and “Kartini: Princess of Java.”

The pairing of Hakim and Nugraha gives the film a strong generational link. Hakim plays the mother, while Nugraha plays the daughter caught far from home. That contrast — a widow in a Javanese village versus a worker in Saudi Arabia — shapes the whole story.

Behind the Production

ANP Talenta Media, run by Tika Bravani, and Japan’s Knockonwood Inc., headed by Shin Yamaguchi, are producing “Ibuku.” Hong Kong’s Chinese Shadows executives Isabelle Glachant and Li Xiaorong serve as creative producers. Cahyono holds an executive producer credit via his own Memorieslight Pictures.

This is Bravani’s first feature as a producer. The production team spans Indonesia, Japan and Hong Kong, reflecting the film’s themes of distance and connection across borders.

Asian Shadows on the Record

Maria Ruggieri, Asian Shadows’ head of sales and acquisitions, spoke about the film directly. “‘Ibuku’ is a poetic and touching portrait of a mother through the timeless eyes of her own daughter,” she said. “We are proud to bring Ibuku to the attention of the International audience.”

Ruggieri’s framing ties the film’s emotional core to its central relationship. The story is told through a daughter’s memory of her mother, even as the mother fights to save her daughter’s life.

Cahyono’s Track Record

Asian Shadows previously handled sales on Cahyono’s second feature, “Siti” (2014). That film won three National Indonesian Awards: best screenplay, best music and best film. It also picked up prizes at the Singapore International Film Festival and Shanghai International Film Festival.

World Sales and the Festival Lineup

The film’s world sales will now be handled by Asian Shadows. The company represents Asian films by Asian directors, with a roster that has included Mouly Surya’s “Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts” and Garin Nugroho’s “Memories of My Body.”

Asian Shadows was founded in 2014. Its focus on Asian cinema by Asian directors fits Cahyono’s work well.

The Verdict

“Ibuku” is a film with a strong cast, a timely theme and a director with a proven track record. The Busan selection and the Asian Shadows deal suggest it will travel well internationally.

The film’s combination of Hakim’s star power, Cahyono’s directorial vision and Asian Shadows’ sales push makes it a title to watch. It offers a rare chance to see Indonesian cinema on the world stage, with a story that speaks to audiences everywhere.

The film’s themes — migration, abuse, family — are urgent and relevant. “Ibuku” gives them a human face, through the story of one mother and one daughter separated by distance and circumstance.

For viewers who care about global cinema, “Ibuku” is a film worth seeking out. It arrives with a strong festival pedigree and a sales push from a reputable company. That gives it a fighting chance on the international circuit.

Here is the order in which the story is told:

1. Sumiati, a widow in her 60s, lives alone in a Javanese village.
2. Sri, her daughter, fled Indonesia years ago to escape an arranged marriage and an abusive spouse.
3. Sri is now facing execution in Saudi Arabia after killing a man who tried to abuse her.
4. Sumiati sets out to gather money to reach her daughter one final time.
5. Village chief Djatmiko helps connect her with Indonesian officials and journalists.
6. The film follows how a mother copes with her daughter’s absence, based on Cahyono’s research into migrant workers who leave to escape hardship at home.

Asian Shadows · Busan Film Festival · Christine Hakim · Ibuku · Indonesian Cinema