Where Are You, Mother?

Linda gives birth to an illegitimate child from a relationship with her boyfriend, Alex, who dies in an accident. To avoid a scandal, her father asks his younger sibling to take the baby to Cirebon. Linda is then told that the baby is dead. The baby, Yatim, is treated badly by the caregiver. The caregiver steals the money sent by Linda’s father to support the baby, so Linda’s father gets angry when more money is demanded. Linda overhears the conversation and is told the truth. So Linda goes to Cirebon to pick up her child but Yatim has already run away to Jakarta to look for her. He is aimless and homeless, and becomes a shoe polisher. A children’s toy seller hears a radio broadcast looking for the missing child and advises Yatim to go meet his parent. Yatim refuses, and instead gets hit by a car. Finally, they are reunited at the hospital.

Directed by Hasmanan, Where Are You, Mother? leans on a strong ensemble — Rano Karno, Lenny Marlina, Kusno Sudjarwadi — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1973.