Elora Films

In the thick of the 1998 political tension in East Java, Indonesia, a guard leaves his post despite rumours of ninjas terrorising the town at night, to meet with his lover.

In a coastal village destined to become the new capital city of Indonesia, Laila, a junior high school girl, escapes on her boat. She is determined not to return to the land until her wedding plans are canceled.

Dyah and her son travel to the city to make a dead certificate for her husband, Wiji Thukul, who is an Indonesian poet. Dyah's journey turned into something strange since her family holds into belief that he is still alive.

At the age of eighty-two, Carrete wants to fulfil a dream before the end of his career as a dancer: to perform in a great theatre in New York. Despite his tireless enthusiasm, his health tells him that his days as a flamenco master are coming to an end. His art saved him from starvation and the cinemas sheltered him from the cold during the Spanish post-war period. And it was on the big screen that he met his admired Fred Astaire, who settled in his imagination as a fantasy to aspire to. And as he awaits his long-awaited American adventure, Carrete looks back on his past. Joaquín, one of his sons, who was a talented guitarist and whose hopes were dashed by prison, wants to play again. Father and son try to find each other again, while the mirage of the giant skyscrapers fades away, revealing the reality.

This situation occured when in asian financial crisis 1998. A little boy, Ilalang walked out of the house every night to find his father who disappeared when looking for whealty way from black magic. The myths about instant wealth spread rapidly into villagers. Including Ilalang's grandmother.