The ears of beauticians are familiar with the sound of words of many meanings, and it’s no exception to Mikha’s ears. Aside from doing her best as a nail artist, Mikha is also an ear to many of her customers’ stories. She hides her own pain and suffering behind laughter and gossip as a part of her daily routine, which is encapsulated in the documentary Kanaka (Regina Surbakti, 2023).
As she resides together in a two-income household with her husband and her only daughter, Mikha is constantly worried about her and her husband’s roles as parents, as they struggle to find time for their daughter, Gendis. Having heard the questionable stories and shady jobs of her customers made Mikha reluctant to let Gendis mature near her whenever she’s working. But releasing one source of income is impossible because it would mean gambling with their chances of survival.
Kanaka (2023) serves a question of personal and societal roles on a platter to its viewers. How ‘acceptable’ is a woman’s role as a breadwinner and what does she need to gamble in order to protect that? The portrayal of Mikha and her family in Kanaka (2023) is proof that a family living in a dire financial situation will always force the human head to plan out every next step. To have their minds play back and find ways to get through life as they have no choice but to answer the question, “What should we do tomorrow? What kind of life do we want to live tomorrow?”.
Lend your ears to hear Mikha’s story at this year’s festival! Kanaka (2023) is selected in Short Competition Festival Film Dokumenter 2023. Perhaps, we are the other Mikha’s. (Athallah, Tuffahati) (Vanis/Adinta)
Film Details
Kanaka
Regina Surbakti | 25 Minutes | 2023 | DI Yogyakarta | Color | 13+
Screening Schedule
12.05 | Bioskop Sonobudoyo | 19.00 WIB
12.09 | Auditorium IFI-LIP | 15.00 WIB
