AFTER the screening of the film Women from Rote Island at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2023 last November, Merlinda Dessy Arantji Adoe was approached by a sobbing viewer. Merlinda, the film’s main actress, was surprised. “Apparently, the viewer was emotionally affected by the consecutive problems faced by Orpha. How can someone’s life be like that?” said Merlinda to Tempo on January 8.

According to Merlinda,