You are here:

Primbon

Name: Primbon
Director: Rudi Soedjarwo
Released: 2023
Duration: 88 min

Representation Score

5.2/10

Fair

2023

Director

Rudi Soedjarwo

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Primbon is a culturally specific drama that finds its strength in localized storytelling. By focusing on Indonesian traditions like the tahlilan, the film offers a perspective that diverges from typical Hollywood narratives. The film's main achievement lies in the ability to act given to its female lead, Dini. Her refusal to accept the community's consensus on her daughter's death drives the plot and challenges passive mourning customs. While the film does not explicitly engage with identity politics or LGBTQ+ narratives, it succeeds in presenting a spiritual and communal worldview that feels authentic to its regional setting.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Primbon have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story centers on family bonds and the survival of a child. There is no direct mention of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender narratives.

How does Primbon portray gender?

Fair

Dini's character shows significant emotional strength by rejecting traditional mourning rituals. She refuses to accept the community's consensus on her daughter's death, highlighting a nuanced sense of female resilience.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Primbon?

Good

The film is deeply rooted in Indonesian culture, using local traditions and regional mysticism to offer a non-Western perspective on spirituality and life.

How does Primbon represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story explores the tension between communal religious rites and individual maternal instincts. It emphasizes local spiritualism and indigenous beliefs over globalized narrative norms.

Does Primbon include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Strong female role through Dini's rejection of traditional mourning rituals.
Authentic integration of Indonesian cultural practices and regional mysticism.
Provides a non-Western perspective on spirituality and communal expectations.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit representation for LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives.
No characters with visible or invisible disabilities.
Focus primarily on traditional family structures.

Official Synopsis

It starts with Rana and his best friend Janu who are climbing a mountain in bad weather. In the middle of a dense forest, they got separated and lost. Janu is lucky to be back home at last. But not with Rana. An extensive search was carried out. Rana not found. A week has passed. Rana's extended family decided to hold a tahlilan. Rana is considered unlikely to have survived and will surely die there. Dini can't accept that. As a mother, Dini doesn't want to just give up and still believes that her daughter Rana is still alive. Sure enough. After the tahlilan, Rana came home in the pouring rain.

How are these scores produced? →