Meja Makan (Goodbye, Table Manner) (2018): The Dining Table and Unspoken Conflicts
- Cheryl Najwa Fawwaz
The family is often seen as the safest place to return to when life becomes overwhelming a space where we are accepted unconditionally. Yet, a lack of mutual understanding and honesty among family members can slowly erode that sense of safety, breaking down trust and giving rise to lingering, unresolved conflicts. This delicate tension is at the heart of Meja Makan (The Dining Table), a short film that quietly explores the inner dynamics of a family composed of a father, a mother, and their child.
In the film, the father constantly plays his melodica, even at the dining table an act that disrupts the atmosphere meant for connection. Meanwhile, the mother repeatedly moves the dining table from one place to another, unsettling the household. This repeated act leaves the other family members, particularly the child, confused and disoriented, struggling to understand what is really happening between the parents.
The film subtly introduces the psychological theme of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), a condition marked by recurring, uncontrollable thoughts or behaviors that cause significant anxiety. Director Wisnu Candra successfully weaves this psychological nuance into the fabric of a domestic drama. Though seemingly simple in execution, the film captures the deep complexities of OCD and its ripple effects within a family setting revealing both the visible and invisible distances that can form between loved ones.
The strength of Meja Makan lies in its minimalism how it uses sparse dialogue and repetitive behavior to illustrate emotional disconnection. The dining table, typically a symbol of unity, becomes instead a silent witness to unresolved tension and unmet needs.
More than just a story about disorder, Meja Makan invites viewers to reflect on the fragility of family bonds, the weight of unspoken pain, and the importance of truly seeing one another before it’s too late.
By Cheryl Najwa Fawwaz
Editor Satya Din Muhammad
Translator Debytha Nela
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