by Tracie Reddick
Happy Salma.
That's a name worth remembering — especially during Women's History Month.
Salma stars in The Redeemption of Sin, an Indonesian film directed by Yosep Anggi Noen that's currently streaming on Netflix.
Her character Wening embodies the spirit of women worldwide who take a licking but still manage to overcome their butt-kickings.
It's not your typical, edge-of-your-seat thriller, but more of a slow burn that doesn't fizzle but sizzles as the simmering plot reaches its boiling point.
Wening breaks the subservient role a lot of females are relegated to in cultures where a male hierarchy reigns.
She's strong-willed and outspoken, traits that are depicted as a curse as opposed to a blessing.
Her tribulations begin when she decides to leave her husband, a lovable dreamer, for an abusive schemer.
In a fit of rage, her husband accidentily sets himself on fire, an act that leaves him badly burned, suicidal and vengeful.
Meanwhile, Wening, her mother and daughter suffer the wrath of her new lover — until she accidentily drowns him in a river — on purpose. Folks believe he abandoned Wening rather than facing up to the folks he conned.
It's interesting to watch Wening unravel while trying to keep it together as things fall apart.
Everything in her world culminates on, well, a dark and stormy night.
Wening, her mother and daughter are riding on a mo-ped and she decides to take a short-cut rather than a safe route home.
She crashes her bike and her mom winds up dead and her daughter missing.
Authorities believe the body of her daughter, Nirmala (Keiko Ananta), washed away in the river where she drowned her lover.
Overcome by grief and the burden of her sins, Wening begins to have visions of her dead mother, who is more of a guiding spirit, and Nirmala's voice, leading her to believe her daughter is still alive.
Tirta (Putri Marino), a local podcaster, initially tries to exploit Wening's search for her missing daughter in the hopes of creating a viral story.
But, the duo form a bond, particularly while folding 1,000 origami swans — a symbol of hope.
They release the paper cranes in the haunted river, hoping the water Gods will show her mercy and return Nirmala.
But, the Gods don't oblige.
According to a scheming elder, Wening is keeping a secret and must confess her sins in a river blessing ritual that doesn't bring back Nirmala either.
It does, however, result in a cleansing that leads to the truth.
Redeemption is a tale that's less menacing and more mysterious, allowing viewers to experience a gamut of emotions while trying to figure out whodunit.
Overall, it's an enjoyable film that honors the perseverance and true essence of the female spirit.