As in the United States, couples in Indonesia generally have a wedding ceremony where they declare their union in front of family and friends, but they also must file the necessary paperwork to be considered legally married, which confers certain rights that cohabiting couples do not have.
One significant difference in marriage practices is that in Indonesia, married couples must be of the same religion and premarital sex is generally frowned upon. Couples sometimes obtain a cultural (Nikah Siri) but not legal marriage in order to enjoy a sexual or domestic relationship without having to get legally married; it is preferred in this case because it is easily dissolved. Hence while a cultural marriage is not as morally questionable in Indonesia as purely casual sex, because it is not a formal union with the level of commitment that a civil marriage indicates, people tend to look down on it when not backed up by a legal marriage.
One significant difference in marriage practices is that in Indonesia, married couples must be of the same religion and premarital sex is generally frowned upon. Couples sometimes obtain a cultural (Nikah Siri) but not legal marriage in order to enjoy a sexual or domestic relationship without having to get legally married; it is preferred in this case because it is easily dissolved. Hence while a cultural marriage is not as morally questionable in Indonesia as purely casual sex, because it is not a formal union with the level of commitment that a civil marriage indicates, people tend to look down on it when not backed up by a legal marriage.
Unfortunately, in the region where Lisa is from, and other impoverished rural areas in Indonesia, sex trafficking is not uncommon. Many families do not have sufficient employment opportunities and struggle to support themselves, and many young women are eager to leave the village to look for a better life. Some are lured into the sex trade with promises of other kinds of employment, such as domestic or restaurant work; others are exploited by their own family.
I did feel very uncomfortable when, during the course of filming, I realized that Lisa was in danger. So, as we see in the film, I asked a member of my team who lived in Indonesia to check up on her periodically, and we gave Lisa our phone number and urged her to contact us if she ever felt she was in danger and needed help. I also promised to provide financial support for Lisa, so she could further her education if she so desired. In this way she could also be somewhat protected from the economic pull that lures some young women into the sex trade.
Seeing how structural violence of poverty, lack of opportunities, lack of medical care, and lack of education limits the choices of vulnerable people, so they sometimes make decisions that can be destructive in a number of ways.
Imam Rohani continues to experience episodes of mental illness. He moved from Central Java to West Java, where he found a new wife who is about the same age as his daughter, Lisa. Lisa has dropped out of high school and aspires to be a model, participating in fashion shows and learning about hair and makeup. Her mother, Tri, has become a devout Muslim and is married to Aji, who is mentioned in the film.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content