KBRN, Jakarta: Film director Reza Rahadian discussed the social phenomenon of kopi pangku workers in Indramayu, West Java, which inspired his latest film Pangku (On Your Lap). He shared his reflections during the Human Rights Film Screening and Review event in Jakarta on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Kopi pangku refers to roadside coffee stalls where female waitresses serve drinks and, in some cases, sit on customers’ laps.

Reza said the struggles of women navigating life’s complexities became a central lesson for him. He described Pangku as a “love letter” to women striving to survive against difficult odds.

The film’s research process involved direct engagement with workers. It revealed that many women take on such jobs to meet their families’ basic needs, from putting food on the table to paying for their children’s education.

Reza emphasized that Pangku was not created to exploit poverty or hardship for visual effect. “It’s not about poverty, but about how people try as hard as possible to survive,” he said.

He added that the film is better understood as a reflection of reality rather than a documentary. “If documentaries show existing reality, this film is a reflection of it, and that is a major reason why it was made,” Reza explained.

Yosef Sampurna Nggarang, Special Staff to the Minister of Human Rights, said cinema has great power to raise public awareness. He praised Pangku for portraying women in vulnerable economic situations and exposing the structural injustices they face.

Yosef noted that works of art can foster empathy and open essential conversations about women’s rights. He stressed that films like Pangku can broaden the reach of human rights advocacy in ways accessible to the broader public.

Through this screening and public discussion, the Ministry of Human Rights hopes Pangku will spark broader dialogue on women’s protection. “This is our collective protest, expressed through the visual language of film,” Yosef said.

The film is also expected to encourage collaboration among stakeholders, including policymakers, to promote initiatives that better support marginalized groups. (Misni Parjiati/Lasti Martina)