Short film

Painted Laws

13 min

A quiet, tender romance pressed against rigid tradition, building to a harsh, sorrowful reckoning that lingers after its brief runtime.

Overview: Ester an eighteen years old girl who lives in the Nainggolan village around Toba lakes in Medan, goes about her daily routine until she met with a strange man Raja (M/24). Raja is the brother of one of the local girls who is her acquaintance, which just moved back to the village after a long time being away. The two unintentionally fell in love with each other although knowing that it was forbidden due to their family background. Ester and Raja lives in a village which is still strong with their cultural influences and one of it is the people with the same Marga cannot marry, Ester and Raja coming from the same Marga is now in trouble. Knowing that they cannot be together and live in that village, they decided to run away together. Unfortunately, as they were planning it, the local residents attacked the house they were in and they were punished accordingly. Which in the case of their culture is to be tied up to a post for an unknown period of time.
How it feels: Melancholic, romantic, tense and earnest. Measured and needs your attention.
About: Love, family, trauma, rebellion
Content: Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.
Note: Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown