12 wives, 52 children, 220 grandchildren, 1 husband. That is the sheer size of MD Raya’s household in the aptly-named One Big Sumba Family (Tonny Trimarsanto, 2022). The film focuses on the dynamics within and surrounding this super-sized family and the village they live in. Through his fly-on-the-wall approach, Trimarsanto showcases the many shades of life in this particular village in East Nusa Tenggara, one which is rooted in tradition.
One Big Sumba Family (2022) provides insights into the bright and beautiful colors and cultural contours of ceremonies and celebrations in the village, which provides for a visually pleasing sight. The documentary does however, manage to diligently display the darker undertones of rural life such as that of violence, poverty and patriarchy. These shades help us further explore the complexities of MD Raya’s family. It is explained that In his act of polygamy, MD Raya openly opposes the religiously-rooted norms of his village.
In the poignant opening scene, we see Marta, the wife of Adi, MD Raya’s son from his twelfth wife, pray to God that his husband does not fall for–let alone marry–another woman. The irony however, is revealed in one of the final scenes: Adi, like his father, also believes that having further wifes could be a part of God’s plan for him.
One Big Sumba Family (2022) also manages to be thematically aware in the case of the current questions surrounding the melding of tradition and modernity. There are many instances throughout the documentary where these two sometimes seemingly opposite sides clash. However, it does not lie in its exploration of complex clashes of principles. The film is in the titular focus on family, in the moments in which, as families often do, they pull together and prevail despite the many day-to-day difficulties they face.
One Big Sumba Family (2022) is in competition in Indonesia Feature-Length Competition Festival Film Dokumenter 2023. (Aradi Ghalizha) (Vanis)
Detail Film
One Big Sumba Family
Tonny Trimarsanto | 80 Minutes | 2022 | East Nusa Tenggara | Color | 17+
Jadwal Tayang
12.04 | Auditorium IFI-LIP | 16.30 WIB
