Lovely Man (2011)

Description

Lovely Man tells the story of Cahaya, a 19-year-old girl with strong Islamic values, who discovers that her long-lost father, Syaiful/Ipuy, is a transgender woman working on the streets of Jakarta. The narrative unfolds over the course of one night as they walk through Jakarta, illustrating how their encounter changes their lives as they learn about love, loss, and redemption. Cahaya arrives in Jakarta from what can be assumed to be her small-town home just as the sun is setting. Armed with a piece of notepaper and a few rupiah, she is in the city searching for the father she hasn't seen since she was four. Asking neighbors and shopkeepers in the area where he lives for Syaiful elicits blank stares in return. When they finally realize she means Ipuy, they point her in the right direction and say he is "working" around Taman Lawang, Jakarta's infamous spot for transgender sex workers. Naturally, Cahaya goes looking for an office building or store. When she locates Ipuy (Damara), she finds a transvestite prostitute plying her trade on the streets. In the initial moments after their encounter, both are shocked by the turn of events. The innocent Cahaya is devastated by her father's choices, while Ipuy is horrified to see the daughter he willfully left behind.