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Synopsis
After discovering she’s pregnant, Lara returns to her seaside childhood home on the anniversary of her mother’s death. There, she struggles to connect with her distant father while descending into a surreal inner world haunted by the myths and spirits of her forgotten Indonesian cultural heritage. As nightmares blur with memory, Lara is forced to confront her fears about motherhood, identity, and the ghosts of her past.
Inspirations and Themes
Mother Tongue is a deeply personal exploration of grief, generational trauma, and the invisible threads that bind mothers and daughters across time. The film grew out of a desire to process my grandmother’s suicide. She suffered from postpartum depression and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Her death left a silence that rippled through the generations that followed. This isn’t her story, but I wanted to explore how that silence lingers, especially for a woman on the brink of motherhood, trying to understand which parts of her past she carries with her. The film also reflects my mixed heritage, weaving together the textures of my Indonesian roots with the muted coastal atmosphere of Margate, two polar worlds that have shaped me. This duality shapes the emotional and visual landscape of the film. Through dreamlike sequences inspired by Indonesian folklore and grounded, intimate moments of domestic tension, Mother Tongue becomes a space to process inherited grief and the search for connection.
Why we need your help
Blurring the line between dream and reality, our film relies heavily on production design to be able to fully bring this world to life. Investment in materials, props, costumes, and set dressings are essential to showing Lara's emotional journey. We want to create a space where we can explore and experiment with the surreal nature of the dreams. While we've chosen locations that align closely with our vision, the dream sequences require imagination and creativity. Without revealing too much, water plays a significant role throughout the film, especially in these dreamscapes. To incorporate these elements safely and efficiently, we need your support to help us in realising our vision.
The importance of Margate cannot be understated - its beautiful landscapes and layered architecture are not just a backdrop for our story - they're a character in themselves. Your support will help us cover key costs such as transport to Margate, accommodation for cast and crew, location permits and art department expenses. It will also ensure we can provide meals and cover insurance to keep our team working safely and creatively.
Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to telling this story the way we imagined. Follow us on Instagram for regular updates on the development of the production:
Rewards
£20 - Special Thanks in the Credit
Your name will appear in the "Special Thanks" section of the credits!
£30 - Private Screening Invitation
An exclusive invite to a private screening with the cast and crew in London, upon the completion of the film in December of this year. Also includes your name in the Special Thanks credits!
£50 - Printed Poster of the Film
A beautifully designed A2 printed poster of the film. Also includes your name in the credits, as well as an invitation to the screening!
£500 - Become an Executive Producer
Your generous support earns you an Executive Producer credit on the film. This means regular discussions with the team with an opportunity to provide input on the direction of the film. Also includes an invitation to a private screening and a printed poster of the film!
Our Crew
Sarah - Director and Writer
Sarah is a writer and director of mixed Indonesian-English heritage, born and raised in Jakarta. Her work draws from her cultural roots, exploring Indonesian folklore, mythology, and spirituality through intimate, dreamlike stories. Mother Tongue is her debut as a writer-director.
Isaak - Producer
Born and raised in London with a French background, Isaak began his filmmaking journey with the film society at UCL, where he studied History. Now specialising as a producer, he's looking forward to using his experience, working within different departments on various projects, to oversee this project.
Doğa - Production Designer
Doğa grew up in Ankara, Turkey, where she studied architecture at Bilkent University, before moving to London to pursue her passion for film, specialising in production design. Her lifelong dream has been to work in cinema and her architectural background, bringing an understanding of 3D space and structural design, has helped shape the physical word of the story.
Will - Director of Photography
Will is from the UK, with a background in photography he is interested in cultural identity, human experience and memory. His recent work in motion has allowed him to further explore and communicate these themes.
Didi - Editor
Didi graduated from the Beijing Film Academy with a degree in Television Directing, and is currently pursuing her MA in Film at London College of Communication. With a strong background in editing, she previously served as Deputy Head of Editing at her university’s television station and interned at a leading trailer production company. Known for her precision and collaborative spirit, she excels at crafting both fast-paced, stylised pieces and emotionally driven narratives across genres.
Organizer
