More than 300 troops of ducks go out of their basecamp and rush into the rice paddies. They are under the command of Sukirman, a man, born in 1966, who got domestic duck way before he was born. In order to support his ducks who have been taken care of as if they are his own children, Sukirman must live nomadically like a primordial man, moving from one rice field to another field which is moving into post-harvest stage.
Cheap and easy to obtain is the main reason why Sukirman chose to keep wandering to find harvested rice fields with his ducks troupe. From Cilacap, Banyumas, Kebumen, to Banjar-Pekalongan border, he has stayed over. He does everything sincerely in order to meet the amount of the food which is up to 30kg in each day. Nonetheless, the duck feed plays an important role in lifting the productivity of duck eggs.
One of the main alternative feeds for ducks is rice or grain. After the harvest season, the stock is certainly abundant in the field. It is not only an attempt to save more money but, in fact, rice contains nutrients such as fiber and silica that are good for the ducks. In addition, this method will satisfy the ducks since they get much food and it indeed reduces the cost of feed. It is also advantageous to the field where they vanish the pest before the next growing season.
The 9 minutes and 25 second documentary that is directed by Lukman Maulana rolls smoothly, moving from the rice fields where Sukirman’s duck troupe is busy foraging for food to the house where Sukirman’s wife processed their duck eggs into salted eggs and ready to be distributed to the market. Until now, salted eggs are categorized as a food commodity which is quite stable in the market. Sukirman’s wife never loses a customer. Day by day, she travels to drop the salted eggs in some stalls or in the markets. Most of the time, the salted eggs are sold out.
Sukirman’s wife has her own recipe formulation for making salted eggs. Over the night, the duck eggs are wrapped in clay that has been mixed with salt. If you are interested in finding out more about the composition of the mixture to create the right taste of salted eggs, this documentary may need to go on your watchlist.
Through Wek Wek, the filmmaker strives to bring the value of self-sufficiency that is inherent and prominent in middle society. Those who remain faithful to the work that has indeed been passed on from previous generations. Through Sukirman and his duck troupe we can also learn that life is indeed about moving and moving. Everything is uncertain, which is definitely just an uncertainty.
Written by Hesty N. Tyas
Edited by Vanis
Film Details:
Wek Wek
Lukman Maulana | 9 min | Indonesia | Color | 2022 | PG
Kompetisi Dokumenter Pelajar
Showtime:
16 November 2022 | Bioskop Sonobudoyo | 15.00
19 November 2022 | Bioskop Sonobudoyo | 16.30
