Synopsis
Cahaya, a 10-year old trash-picker from the slums of North Jakarta dreams of owning a bicycle. One day, while searching for recyclables, her wish comes true through an unexpected, fantastic find. Yet soon enough, the other children see her treasure and want it too – especially a neighborhood bully named Hasan, who corners Cahaya and steals the bike. Vowing to get it back at all costs, Cahaya goes to Hasan’s house to reclaim what is hers. Yet when she arrives, she discovers Hasan’s secret.

Program Note
Cahaya is a film about the daily life of a girl from the poorest sector of North Jakarta who makes a living by picking trash in the slums. In the miraculous moment where her modest dream comes true, unsurprisingly, violent reality breaks in. The structure of violence that permeates through the lives of the slum children exactly resembles that of the adults’ lives, and the girl cultivates a small miracle with her bare hands. [HONG So-in]