Position Among the Stars 2011

In this vibrant yet volatile tapestry, we witness a complex family dynamic as three generations of Javanese kin intricately navigate the precarious web of cultural, social, and economic disparities within their humble Jakarta home. At the center of this tale is Bakti, a restless soul whose obsession with his prized Siamese fighting fish symbolizes his own existential struggles. His long-suffering wife, Sri, tirelessly manages her small food stall while their orphaned niece, Tari, focuses on acquiring trendy blue contact lenses rather than pursuing higher education.

As Indonesia grapples with the tumult of democracy and the insidious grasp of corruption, Tari unexpectedly becomes a beacon of hope. Her academic brilliance shines through when she triumphantly passes her final examination, prompting the family to mortgage their home to support her university dreams. However, this newfound stability is fleeting, and Bakti and Sri’s already strained relationship grows increasingly fragile, exacerbated by petty arguments over everything from holy water to cooking fuel.

Simultaneously, Dwi, Bakti’s brother, finds himself ensnared in a cultural storm as their mother, Rumijah, introduces her young grandson Bagus to Christian prayers, jeopardizing his Muslim upbringing. As tensions mount and chaos nearly erupts in the kitchen—where the switch from oil to cheaper gas almost ignites a fire—Bakti seizes the moment to bring his estranged mother back from their ancestral village. He hopes she can instill traditional values in young Bagus while also guiding Tari through her graduation and college applications.

Will this unlikely combination of cultural heritage, personal ambition, and family drama pave the way for a new future for this resilient Javanese family?