World Premiere | In Competition | White Mulberry Award Candidate
Indonesia, 2025, 89’, Javanese
Directed by: Eden Junjung
Screenplay: Eden Junjung
Cinematography (color): Yadi Sugandi
Editing: Akhmad Fesdi Anggoro
Production Design: Adih Cokro
Lighting: Aria Begal
Music: Yennu Ariendra
Producer: Ifa Isfansyah
Cast: Raihaanun (Ambar), Shimala Avadana (Lukman), Whani Darmawan (Raden Broto), Alex Suhendra (Bogel), Rukman Rosadi (Komar)
Date of First Release in Territory: May 22nd, 2025
What is precious and valuable is often determined by how difficult it is to obtain it. Diamonds, pearls, and gold are gifts from nature, but they all require time, labor, and luck. As their value is directly reflective of the hard work they involve, the act of discovering one makes it feel all the more rewarding. However, when greed comes into the picture and tries to cut corners, injustice and inhumane situations occur. It’s ironic how such beautiful things are inseparable from the heinous. In the first feature film by Eden Junjung, the darkness of greed is embodied in the demon that resides in the shadows of a sand mine.
Jarot (Aksara Dena) labors all day while sifting through sand and gravel. There are rumours that this sand mine owned by Raden Broto (Whani Darmawan) is haunted, so all the workers are advised to go home before night falls. But Jarot, having found a diamond on site, thinks there could be more where it came from. With Bogel (Alex Suhendra), the two go on a search for diamonds until a set of red eyes appear from the bushes.
When her husband doesn’t return home, worried Ambar (Raihaanun) decides to visit the mine the following day with her son Bondan (Nabil Althaf) in tow. When no one can give her a lead, she asks Broto to hire her as a means to make a living. As the truth behind her husband Jarot’s death surfaces, the sand mine turns out to be more than just a haunted place.
In this slow-burn thriller-horror, it’s clear there is something off about the mine right from the beginning. However, the film doesn’t rush to uncover it. The greyscale palette further dulls the visual senses from stimulation and simmers the audience on low heat until the timing becomes just right for all madness to be let loose. It might take a little patience, but when the pressure cooker bursts during the final brawl like an eruption of the Merapi, it will be well worth the wait.
The strong performances play a huge role in building the orchestrated tension of this film. Although Ambar is seen as the protagonist for the totality of the narrative, it is really Bogel who drives the first half of the story. It’s hard not to see his resemblance to Gollum of
The Lord of the Rings due to their similarities in physical disposition and their attachment to gems. Alex Suhendra gives birth to a new Gollum with his intricate performance, becoming Hansel’s breadcrumbs that keep us on track and acutely focused even at the quietest moments. During the grand climax full of blood, gore, and action, Whani Darmawan’s presence is impactful and shocking, befitting the madness that unfolds. After Bogel’s buildup and Broto’s climax, it’s Ambar, the sole woman and the only non-greedy, who gets rid of the source of all madness to give the story closure. But the greed inside us leaves a bitter and unsettling feeling.
Perhaps the corruption and the madness within Broto’s sand mine are a subtle reference to the 2023 lift on sea sand exporting ban in Indonesia, a financially lucrative industry. Due to the rise in concerns about the negative impacts of sea sand mining, it was banned about 20 years ago. This lifting of the ban is a big concern in the long run as it will deteriorate the islands, cause coastal abrasion, and impact the marine ecosystem. It seems that in reality as well as the world of Ambar, greed looms with darkness whenever money is involved.
GUEST:
Eden JUNJUNG, director
Raihaanun, actress
Simhala AVADANA
Ifa ISFANSYAH, producer
Eden Junjung
Eden Junjung is an Indonesian filmmaker whose shorts include
Flowers in the Wall (2016),
Happy Family (2017) and
Bura (2019, Best Jury Award winner at SeaShort Malaysia 2020). His feature project Mayday won Best Future Project at Jogja Future Project of Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Fest in 2018, and participated in Ties That Bind 2019 of Focus Asia, Udine Far East Film Festival’s industry program.
Mad of Madness is his first feature film.
FILMOGRAPHY
2025 – Mad of Madness