For some people, a “mother” is just a collection of letters: m, o, t, h, e, and r–– without any meaning and significance. However, it hides stories longing to be revealed. The Other Daughter (Fala Pratika, 2024) appears as a space allowing those to go through the wounds that were etched by their mother’s love and just left untreated. It makes a child live a life pretending that everything is fine while the scars have never been covered with gauze. More than just the story of the mother-daughter relationship, this documentary uncovers layers of trauma that are often passed down unnoticed.
Director Fala Pratika takes the audience on a deeply personal journey to get to know a mother whom they are unfamiliar with. In this process, she discovers a cold, hard truth: that her mother might viewed her as an unwanted child. Through the evidence she found, Fala delves into the deep emotions of his mother, as if she finds the answers to the questions she never realized existed.
The title of this film, The Other Daughter, takes on a profound meaning. She, as if, becomes a reminder that a “mother” is also a daughter who carries some wounds. A girl who may know nothing, grows up in sadness and continues to seek love and validation around her. Unwittingly, it provokes a generational trauma that keeps being passed down.
Although this documentary seems to invite us to develop empathy for the mother, Director Fala offers no justification. The pain felt by her mother did not necessarily erase the impact of what Fala has gone through. That generational trauma cannot be used as an excuse to reproduce and pass it down to others. Strictly speaking, this documentary might state that, although understandable, past wounds are not always taken for granted.
Director Fala does not give an exact answer as to whether or not the anger fades away. Perhaps, we don’t need to forgive the whole past in order to move forward. However, through honesty and vulnerability, The Other Daughter (2024) provides a space for understanding. Not to forgive unconditionally, but to reflect on the journey that has been taken in the hope of finding meaning among the scarring wounds. (Tirza Kanya) (Ed. Vanis/Trans. Shafira Rahmasari)
Film Details
The Other Daughter
Fala Pratika | 25 Min | 2024 | DI Yogyakarta
Official Selection for Lanskap
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024
Screening Schedule
Nov. 7 | 19:00 WIB | Militaire Societeit, TBY
Nov. 9 | 13:00 WIB | Ruang Seminar, TBY
