Missing Home (Indonesian: Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap) is a 2022 Indonesian comedy-drama film directed by Bene Dion Rajagukguk. The film stars Arswendy Beningswara Nasution, Tika Panggabean, Boris Bokir Manullang, Gita Bhebita Butarbutar, Lolox and Indra Jegel. It tells the story of the parents of a Batak family that pretend to argue so their children can come back to them in time for a tradition.
Pak Domu and Mak Domu are parents of four children: Sarma, Sahat, Domu, and Gabe. Sarma lives with and takes care of her parents, while her brothers live in other cities with their own careers. Missing the children and with a BatakThanksgiving party coming up, the two want their children to come home, but are faced with dilemmas: Domu wants to marry a Sundanese woman, who Pak Domu fears might not understand Batak culture, Gabe is the star of a comedy show despite Pak Domu choosing law as his major, and Sahat lives with and cares for a man named Pak Pomo after graduating university and refuses to go back home. Pak Domu and Mak Domu decide to start acting out arguments and pretend that a divorce is imminent, causing the children to return to them for a temporary stay.
After an unsuccessful conversation at dinner, the children take both parents to Bukit Holbung and talk to each one of them while distracting the other. Pak Domu explains that he wants to be defended for raising the family, while Mak Domu claims that her husband is making her tired. Pak Domu's mother tell the children that she was aware of the situation, and recommends that they stay until the party is finished.
The family are able to partake in the Batak Thanksgiving party together, and the next day, Mak Domu is forced to rest due to a fever; Pak Domu uses this as an opportunity to scold his children for not following his wishes. The children, knowing that there might be no end to the situation, decide to return to their respective careers anyway. Pak Domu starts an argument that angers the children and Mak Domu, who, angry at his patriarchal ideology, inadvertently reveals that the divorce situation was fake the entire time. Sarma, who overheard their conversation about staging the divorce before the three children came home, breaks down in tears and explains about how she was always pressured to follow Pak Domu's orders, resulting in her abandoning her dreams. Mak Domu, now wanting a real divorce, leaves to her mother's house with Sarma, while Domu and Gabe return to their normal lives and Sahat opts to stay at the house.
Pak Domu meets with his mother and explains that he inherited his parenting style from his dad. His mother tells him that every family has a different parenting style and urges to accept the family's differences. After briefly meeting with Mak Domu, Pak Domu visits the children's workplaces. He learns that Domu's wife is interested in Batak culture and Sahat is a respected person in the village he resides in, while also appearing on Gabe's show and expressing acceptance of his job. Remembering Mak Domu's wishes, Pak Domu reunites the family at her mother's house, and, promising to return to their house together once more, eats lunch with the rest of his family.
The film ends with a Batak quote, which says, "Sititik ma sigompa, golang-golang pangarahutna. On ma na boi tarpatupa, sai godang ma pinasuna". The quote translates to "This is what we can present, may it bring many blessings".
Cast
Arswendy Beningswara Nasution as Pak Domu
Tika Panggabean as Mak Domu
Boris Bokir as Domu Purba
Gita Bhebhita Butar-butar as Sarma E. Purba
Lolox as Gabe Purba
Indra Jegel as Sahat Purba
Rita Matu Mona as Ompung Domu
Release
The film was theatrically released in Indonesia on 2 June 2022.[2] The film garnered 2.8 million admission during its sixty four days theatrical run and it became the fourth highest-grossing Indonesian film of 2022 as of 27 October.[3][4]
