Anthology of Darkness

Langgeng is ten years old, mute, and lives with his seriously ill father in a dilapidated village on the edge of the railroad tracks. His mother disappeared without a trace when he was still a baby. A friend of his mother's, the prostitute Kartini, takes care of him. During the day, Langgeng sells newspapers and snacks prepared by Kartini, always holding an old photo of his mother in his hand—hoping to find her again one day. On his search, he encounters drug dealers, pimps, a loving gay neighborhood, and other outsiders who treat him with compassion and humanity. ANTHOLOGY OF DARKNESS by M. Ainun Ridho is an Indonesian drama that focuses on the social fringes of Surabaya. The film shows how people who are socially marginalized nevertheless show solidarity and warmth. The story is based on real observations and was shot on location in places such as the Ngagel railway embankment and the Kalimas district.