Short Docufiction | 27’54” | Please note: This video may require you to sign in to YouTube due to platform policies.
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Attached is a story that flows gently in the pulse of Babam, a figure forging his path through the vibrant world of Kabaret Raminten in Yogyakarta. Behind the quiet door of his room, Babam brushes a wig, prepares a costume, and summons Luna—an alter ego that only appears under the stage light. In a gentle conversation with Luna, they reminisce about the shadows of the past, the threats from those who misunderstand them, the stigma clinging to their bodies, and the tireless struggle to bring art to life on a vibrant stage.
Each dialogue becomes a reflection, a journey between two worlds—between Babam, who lives his everyday life, and Luna, who stands gracefully on stage. Amid these boundaries, they search for meaning; how the art they create is often misinterpreted as rebellion. Yet, behind the glamour of the cabaret, there lies a longing to be recognised as true and whole artists in a world that often looks down upon them.
This film poetically portrays the spectrum of self between Babam and Luna—how Babam chooses to let Luna live only on stage, a world that transcends the boundaries of reality. The cabaret drag show becomes a vast realm of freedom, a realm where self-expression is celebrated yet also full of challenges, especially in the age of social media, which accelerates all forms of judgment. Babam and Luna hum through nostalgia, laughter, and pain while maintaining a delicate distance between real life and stage fantasy.
Artist
Byakta BaBam
Indonesia
Byakta BaBam hails from the Riau Islands and is a multidisciplinary artist with a background in fine arts from the Indonesian Institute of Arts, Yogyakarta. Embracing the idea that art transcends boundaries, he has ventured into dance, theater, photography, and most recently, fashion experimentation.
A seasoned performer, baBAM has been a key member of the “Raminten Cabaret Show”—Indonesia’s only publicly accessible drag show—since 2009. He also collaborates with the art collective “Sudah Pekak Sakit Lagi” (established in 2013) and launched his personal project, “The Freak Show”, in 2018. Through his diverse practices, baBAM continues to explore and redefine creative expression.