If Mom Is Gone Tomorrow

Rudi Soedjarwo's 2024 Indonesian film follows four adult siblings forced back together when their mother's health declines. Old resentments, questions of money and the question of who will take responsibility all surface. The film drew unexpectedly large audiences in Indonesia and became one of the most-watched domestic productions of the year. That owes largely to the familiarity of its subject: an ageing parent, scattered siblings and things left unsaid. Christine Hakim plays the mother and her performance carries the film. The narrative leans openly on melodrama; the music is heavy and the emotional scenes are held long. That choice increases its effect while moving it away from subtlety. Who it's for: those who like family drama and Southeast Asian popular cinema. Who it's not for: viewers looking for restraint; the film keeps the emotional pitch deliberately high.