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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Anggy Umbara Directs New Film 'Keluarga Suami Adalah Hama,' Drawing from Personal Marriage Experiences

From Republika · (9m ago) Indonesian Mixed tone

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Director Anggy Umbara is releasing a new film titled "Keluarga Suami Adalah Hama" (The Husband's Family is a Pest).
  • The film, based on a short story, explores the common conflicts faced by a wife living with her husband's family.
  • Umbara drew heavily from his own 20-year marriage experiences to authentically portray the characters' struggles.

Indonesian director Anggy Umbara is set to release his latest film, "Keluarga Suami Adalah Hama," a project deeply personal to him, drawing from two decades of marital experience. The film delves into the often-fraught dynamics of a newlywed couple living with the husband's family, a situation Umbara states is "very me," reflecting the universal struggles many Indonesian women face in similar domestic arrangements.

This film, it's very me. I've been married for 20 years, and I've experienced all those dramas.

— Anggy UmbaraDirector Anggy Umbara explaining his personal connection to the film's themes.

The narrative centers on Damar (Omar Daniel) and Intan (Raihaanun), who are forced to reside with Damar's parents due to financial difficulties. Intan finds herself treated as an unpaid helper, while Damar is caught between defending his wife and respecting his mother and siblings. This relatable scenario, Umbara explains, mirrors his own life, where he has witnessed his wife endure hardship and felt compelled to side with his own family over her.

The wife crying alone because of my mother's words to her. Me having to defend my siblings rather than my wife. Me catching my wife telling others, 'my mother is a witch'. It's hilarious.

— Anggy UmbaraDirector Anggy Umbara sharing specific, relatable anecdotes from his own marriage that inspired the film.

Adapted from a popular short story by Aditya Santana, which garnered over 100 million views on Noice, the film promises an authentic portrayal of familial conflict. Umbara's direct involvement in similar situations lends a raw honesty to the storytelling. He hopes the film will serve as a catalyst for reflection and empathy, encouraging healthier family relationships within Indonesian society. "Keluarga Suami Adalah Hama" is a collaboration between VMS Studio and Umbara Brothers Film, following their previous work on "Ozora: Brutal Persecution of the South Jakarta Ruler."

Everything just came out, flowed naturally. Because I felt what Damar felt in the film.

— Anggy UmbaraDirector Anggy Umbara on the ease of directing the film due to his personal experiences.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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