Life list, Beloved, Not about glory or lost. It's what truly costs.
I used to list what I wanted to do. Every year I made the list longer until I stopped as I’ve found primary list that I won’t forget to make come true.
One of them is writing my own book (I’ve written with friends in anthology books) so I’m working on it.
Another one is having a home where family and friends feel the true selves in them. My first house was but as it is located not in a preferred place, I decided to make a new one. Working on it–
Many more and I’m working on all of them.
They might come true or not as age is not predictable yet at least I’m working on all of them.
How do I look, Love Before the mirror of heart Talking honesty.
Who doesn’t want to look young or beautiful at the longest time? Looking young and beautiful is one of the best feelings in life. But how far can human beings stretch themselves to stay young?
Today I bumped into a movie in the flight from Hanoi to Singapore: The Substance in which a woman (played by Demi Moore) is struggling of being not wanted in the industry because of not looking as young anymore. The horror of doing so much to stay young gave me a wake-up call that liking it or not, I who looks younger than her age will definitely age and weaken through time.
How long can I stay young naturally?
I won’t look young all the time especially as I decided to not do expensive facial and body treatment. Factually that’s very not necessary (for me).
Truly at 65 this body is weak and can’t work as now. By then I hope that I can appropriately function as a wise soul staying in a relatively healthy body that does light works everyday until time kindly escorts me to the next gate of life.
Dear, Life.
Thank you for taking care of me.
Please always guide me to stay in the path of human being in the making as long as time allows. I might not get everything grandiose but I don’t want to lose anything precious.
Please give me big heart enough to always experience joy through all senses and to share it everyday.
Disclaimer: It is not a movie review. It is an impression told with a limited basis and personal preference.
This movie is about a man who is willingly taking the responsibility to raise 5 kids who are left by their parents (a couple passing away, the other couple divorced) and 2 other irresponsible adults.
Moko (the 1 Kakak that means one older brother), an architect, decides to delay his dream of becoming a successful architect and his love life in order to ensure all the five kids (in short two nephews and 3 nieces) are well taken care of. When two adults joined the folk, the five kids turns to seven that makes “7 Ponakan” literally meaning “7 nephews and nieces”.
It is with happy ending although it seems that the family should work hard for bright future. The happy end is Moko reunites with the family with a clearer reconciliation of what to do to be a family and find the love (who is always her from the start).
A sandwich generation is what’s portrayed in the movie in which someone has to bear the family “burden” that is not supposed to be his. A younger brother takes care of his sister’s children plus another sister and her husband.
It is normal in Asian culture especially to middle to lower class society. Siblings finance other siblings for education. Aunts or uncle do like Moko. And so on.
The movie leaves me in awe on how a family is redefined, how the movie is produced (I don’t know though about cinematography so let’s skip it) and how the original story is composed with high complexity of sadness over sadness (this movie was a TV series back in 90’s, adapted from a story written by an Indonesian prominent author, Arswendo Atmowiloto).
As part of sandwich generation I consider this movie acts as a strong reminder that sandwich generation is an important part of a society.
If proportioned to the productive age population in Indonesia of 206 million, an estimated 56 million people fall into the sandwich generation category. In terms of age, the Indonesian sandwich generation is spread across all generations, from generation Z, Y, X, to baby boomers. (Kompas.id)
I like processing data to some extent but about this movie I am more interested in how to perceive sandwich generation from personal point of view rather than from socioeconomic that might complicate my opinions.
Back then I was angry knowing I was part of those needing to take the “burden” but then I learnt that life has chosen me to take the burden as a responsibility with many good reasons. Although I’m born into an economically decent family, life is so dynamic twisting the plot and tada! I’m a sandwich generation.
Although I feel bad about some people who has to be sandwich generation when they themselves in unfortunate situation like Moko; I still think those economically decent should have some sort heart to willingly help those needing genuine assistance.
Sandwich generation is not only tested with the responsibility itself (many stories tell about how they struggle with debts and uncertain future) but also with the way the support is responded. Some are thankful to supporter (sandwich generation) but others feel more need to enjoy success leaving the past untouched. I found that their being thankless is not a bad thing spiritually for the supporter, it is a good thing for the sandwich generation to train how to value their own self regardless. Is it easy? No! Yet life is to purify human beings’ intention to be decently kind. Please excuse me if I’m called “so pathetic and irresponsible” for saying so; however, when that’s the only choice, are you going to run away?
How did I watch the movie? I cried and laughed in almost 130 minutes of the show, while my friend slept (she was not interested in the movie, just wanted to hang out with me that very day).
There are some quotes I love the most from this movie.
There is nothing called debt in our own home. There is nothing called “fighting alone”.
As human beings who love, let’s fight for one another.
No matter how kind you are, you won’t be able to help everyone.
The soundtrack songs also all my favourite from Sal Priadi.
Kita Usahakan Rumah Itu
Besok Kita Pergi Makan
Mesra-mesraannya kecil-kecilan dulu
Just like Maurin (Moko’s love), I don’t continue being melancholic though as I am fully aware Moko (the sandwich generation in the family) also needs to ensure his own happiness. Moko just needs to know balance.He knows he can lead the family but he also needs to distribute responsibilities based on capability and accountability in the family.
To me the movie shows a learning journey on how to love, to trust each other, to share, to fight with integrity, and balance perspectives and emotion in different situations.
It is one best Indonesian movie that I recommend to all age groups and all socioeconomic status.
How I wish this movie and those involved be appreciated with many awards and prizes in high profile festivals.
Luxury, my love Makes your stars blink but not glow. Show your true colours.
ββ
βThe Devil Wears Pradaβ is one of 97 purchased movie in my cloud because I would watch those movies again and again and again either because of loving them or not quite understanding them with one play. This movie was based on a novel with the same title.
Watching βThe Devil Wears Pradaβ for more than 4 times doesnβt bore me, not because I like fashion (I like clothes but not that fashion fashion) but because I like the story β Andrea βAndyβ Sachs (main character, protagonist) the humble smart who was derailed from her nature as shaped through her work performance demanded by her boss Miranda Priestly finally found her βway homeβ.
This movie was released in 2006. I watched it in the same year for the first time then bought it from Apple Store in 2017 the until now rewatch it when I want.
This is a movie that has made me stopped buying bags and watches that were not really needed. Pile of bags didnβt make me happier; luckily I donβt have to look fashionable at work so leaving the impressive bags at home never makes me and my work go less. Queue of watches are not necessary anymore with my beloved Apple Watch.
Another thing that this movie has taught me is to be true to myself even if others are not. It is not easy as there are human beings living around me who have been nurtured in environments where competition is sharp or where winning is the only choice to live or where listening is not to understand but to answer, where genuineness is not paramount β yet it is not that challenging to be true for me as most of those around me also try their best to behave ethically.
In the movie Andy was at the brink of identity crisis when she realised than being successful is not only about sitting on a pedestal that is looked up by many or about ruling a territory; being successful can be sitting among the tribe and working hand in hand on the ground to achieve teamβs goal or getting recognition as ethical although not popular or learning to be honest to self everyday with failure and achievements. In other words it is not only a gain outside like promotion, bonus, recognition and the like; but it is also an internal cultivation of getting more mature, clarified, self acceptance, relationship and the like.
Thank you, βThe Devil Wears Pradaβ. Because of you I dug further what brands are truly sustainable based on environment and labor protection and what are putting sustainability as mannequin in display.
A lot more in this movie tells me to realise that βbrands and luxurious life donβt define who I truly amβ.
So am I still buying those with (prominent) brands (that I can conveniently afford to but)? Yes, but only those truly walking what they are talking and they are mostly not the highest end. Very very few and very very occasional. Unfortunate for them yet fortunate for meβ
Some other time I probably want to write about a few.
Away from real life In real life: watching movieβ One perfect weekend!
ββ
Good movie is not always that with good cinematography quality, to me good movie is one released and on when there are many to run away from for some time in real life. Sitting in a huge space among those we donβt know feels like a freedom with responsible limit: we enjoy ourselves and try our best not to disturb others who are enjoying the same thing with us in different way β some people scream watching some scenes, I simply close eyes and block ears; some giggle, I laugh loudly; others eat and drink, I enjoy Fishermanβs Friend, and so on, and so forth.
Life is full of blessings if we can see it from the right point of view.
Salaam.
the best place to run away from reality: theatre π₯°
Of being human: Letting others be human Although for a while.
If only human being is being human, giving up other predicates just for a while. If they give up the wrong concept of being religious, maybe no one will need to say βIβll do whatever I wantβ because everyone respects everybody.
rike jokanan 
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