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Chinese-Indonesian Documentary Explores Identity Through Family Rituals at JAFF Market
Chinese-Indonesian filmmaker explores identity through family rituals and cultural traditions in intimate documentary presented at the JAFF Market.
A new documentary project, “Me, My Mother’s Favorite Monkey” (Aku, Monyet Kesayangan Ibuku), helmed by director Ivonne Kani, examines Chinese-Indonesian identity through the lens of intergenerational family dynamics at the inaugural JAFF Market in Yogyakarta. “Through this film, I aim to confront the tension between my personal choices and my family’s cultural expectations,” says Kani, who positions herself both behind and in front of the camera wearing a golden headpiece inspired by Sun Wukong (the Monkey King). The documentary addresses the lasting impact of the Suharto regime’s New Order restrictions on Chinese language and cultural practices, which were lifted in 1998 but continue to influence the Chinese-Indonesian community’s sense of belonging.
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