The Legend of Putri Cempo

The Legend of Putri Cempo blends Javanese shadow puppetry with a modern environmental message. The story follows Princess Putri Cempo, who makes a pact with Dewi Sri to preserve her beauty forever, in exchange for her kingdom’s stewardship of nature. In a parallel narrative, two ghost hunters chase down a trash monster haunting a local village. As they uncover the truth, they learn that beauty and value can be found even in discarded things. The film ultimately critiques humanity’s disregard for nature, showing how the Earth itself may be buried under piles of waste.