Experiencing Interruptions?

The Unspoken Wounds

Saad (16) is a teenage boy who has become the backbone of his family, caring for his younger sister, Asih (10), and his grandmother (60), who has long struggled with mental illness. Growing up without parental figures, he lacks an emotional connection with both his sister and grandmother. However, a tragic event involving Asih forces Saad to confront his own neglect and realize the importance of protecting his family. The film is inspired by a traditional Sundanese song titled Hihid Kabuyutan, which conveys a meaningful moral about mutual care within a family.

  • Mariam Gesti Pratiwi
    Director
  • Mariam Gesti Pratiwi
    Writer
  • Linus Galih
    Producer
  • Dika Aprillian Hakim
    Producer
  • Andika Wahyu
    Co-Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Laut Memendam Luka
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 28, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    3,710 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Indonesia
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Language:
    Indonesian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Jogja Film Academy
  • Festival Film Indonesia 2024
    Jakarta
    Indonesia
    November 20, 2024
    Best Short Film Nominee
Director Biography - Mariam Gesti Pratiwi

Mariam Gesti Pratiwi, born in Jakarta, discovered her passion on writing during Junior High School after reading a literary book that inspired her belief in the power of written works to convey human hopes and emotions. This led her to create a blog compiling her poems and short stories. Over time, she became drawn to the art of filmmaking as a medium to visualize the stories she had long cherished. To deepen her understanding, she pursued film studies at Jogja Film Academy in Yogyakarta.

Her debut film, "Laut Memendam Luka" (The Unspoken Wounds) received a nomination for Best Short Film at the 2024 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI).

Filmography:
• The Unspoken Wounds (2024) – Scriptwriter and Director
• 121Km (2022) – Scriptwriter
• The Woman Without Clitoris (2021) – Master Prop
• Now and When We Die (2019) – Wardrobe
• Tales of Father (2018) – Creative Director

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The idea for this film originated from a traditional lullaby from West Java titled "Hihid Kabuyutan", which was close to the director during childhood. As I grew older, I became curious about the meaning behind the lullaby and discovered new perspectives while delving deeper into it. I realized that this song is highly relevant to today’s social issues, particularly in addressing the rising cases of child sexual abuse in recent years. The story within the lullaby also resonates with the emotions of individuals who struggle to express their true feelings, something that often happens to children. These emotions motivated me to create the film "Laut Memendam Luka" (The Unspoken Wounds), as I feel this story needs to be told not only to reintroduce the richness of Indonesian culture but also to serve as a reflection for our society, considering that the crime of child sexual abuse remains an ongoing issue even to this day.