Indonesian Actor Reza Rahadian Sets ‘Pangku’

variety.com:

Naman Ramachandran Acclaimed Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian steps behind the camera for “Pangku” (On Your Lap), an intimate drama set against the backdrop of Indonesia’s 1998 economic crisis.

The project is selected for the Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), the project market that operates concurrently with Hong Kong FilMart.

The film follows Sartika, a pregnant young woman who leaves her city seeking a better future for her child. After relocating to Pantura (Java’s North Coast region), she meets Maya, a coffee shop owner who initially offers help but later manipulates her into working as a “Kopi Pangku” waitress – a tradition where women sit on men’s laps as they drink coffee.

Sartika’s life takes a turn when she meets Hadi, a fish distributor truck driver, and falls in love. “‘Pangku’ is a deeply personal and intimate portrayal of a mother’s resilience, inspired by my own mother’s unwavering strength,” Rahadian said. “This film is a love letter to her, and to all mothers who silently struggle, yet persevere.” The film, with a budget of $875,000, is currently in production with approximately 85% of financing secured.