Missing Home

Pak Domu and Mak Domu decide to act out arguments and pretend that a divorce is imminent in order to lure their four children back home for the Batak Thanksgiving. They hope a family gathering will bridge the growing gaps between tradition and individual choices.

After an unsuccessful dinner conversation, the children propose a plan to confront both parents at Bukit Holbung, talking to one while distracting the other. The trip marks the start of their attempt to address the tensions within the family.

At Bukit Holbung, each child confronts a parent separately while the other is distracted, pressing for the reasons behind the family rift. Pak Domu defends his role as the family’s patriarch, while Mak Domu accuses him of wearing them down with rigid expectations.

Pak Domu's mother reveals she already knew about the staged drama and urges the siblings to stay until the Batak Thanksgiving is finished. She stresses that every family has its own dynamics and that understanding may come with time.

During the Batak Thanksgiving party, the family manages to participate together, setting aside the earlier deception for the moment. The gathering becomes a backdrop for shared culture and a tentative step toward reconciliation.

Mak Domu falls ill with a fever the next day, forcing rest; Pak Domu uses the moment to chide the children for not aligning with his wishes. The fever underscores the stubborn patriarchal stance at the heart of the conflict.

Despite the tensions, the children decide to return to their own careers, signaling that a clean resolution may be out of reach. They acknowledge the difficulty of balancing tradition with personal aspirations.

Pak Domu initiates another argument that enrages everyone and, in the heat of the clash, inadvertently reveals that the divorce plan was fake. Sarma overhears the confession and breaks down, explaining how she has long been pressured to obey and how her dreams have been stifled.

Mak Domu, exhausted by the pretense, leaves for her mother's house with Sarma, while Domu and Gabe resume their routines and Sahat remains at the family home.

Later, Pak Domu meets his mother and learns that parenting styles vary from family to family. She reminds him to accept the family's differences rather than force conformity.

Pak Domu visits the children's workplaces and learns that Domu's wife is interested in Batak culture, while Sahat is a respected figure in his village who even appears on Gabe's show and gains acceptance for his life choices.

Remembering Mak Domu's wishes, Pak Domu reunites the family at her mother's house and promises to return to their home together. They share lunch with the extended family, signaling a hopeful step toward unity.

The film closes with a Batak blessing about presenting what they can and hoping it brings many blessings. It translates to a wish that their efforts will invite blessings for the family and community.