Berlian and her teenage daughter Daya are on the run from political violence. Constantly daydreaming that her absent father will return, young Daya chafes under the stern hand of her mother. Forced to move inland from their seaside home to a desert of constantly shifting sands, the pair settle down to their familiar antagonism. Finally, Daya sees a vaguely familiar face shuffle in from across the wasteland.
Because of his wife’s encouragement, Prabowo enters a dangerous business and is eventually imprisoned. While waiting for his trial, his business partner, Wahyuni the divorcee, whom he also loves, bails him out. Their children Ani and Reni, who have to downgrade from their mansion to a flat, suffer from the shock of change. They resort to drugs and prostitution to escape reality. While the mother is sick, Wahyuni becomes intimate with Prabowo. Once found out, they slowly try to solve each problem. Wahyuni is willing to reconcile the entire family. So Rini attempts to become a photographer, by following her boyfriend, a tour guide in Bali. There is another character, a journalist, who comes in and out of the film, and functions as a commentator and witness of their lives. The dialogue veers on philosophical messages as director, Slamet Rahardjo, tries to represent both the lower and upper classes, mixing his narrative style with realism.
This documentary was initially meant to give a chance to those who had not yet seen the musical “Untukmu Indonesiaku” by Guruh Sukarnoputra. The musical is shown here but not in its complete form. The director weaves the footage of the show with what happens behind the scenes, the rehearsals and also the process of creating the show. Guruh himself makes an appearance and tells how he learns the art of Bali. There is also footage of the beginnings of the Swara Maharddika group. The director reveals Guruh’s background and influences, including his father Bung Karno and Indonesia’s wondrous nature.
Joki Tobing, a rebellious young man, arrives from Medan and works as a reporter. His reports cause him to be fired by his chief editor, and even his uncle, in whose house he is staying, throws him out. He reports on his uncle’s corruption, which also relates to his own father.
