House of Stories

The short film is told through series of animated paintings complemented by narrations of painter Zico Albaiquni, whose narration loosely ties to the context and backstory behind each of the paintings being referenced in the plot. The story starts with Zico reflecting on the legacy of his family who has lived in the Ciamis House, a single-story Dutch colonial house in Ciamis, West Java, Indonesia, through multiple generations. The house itself was bought by Zico's great-grandfather, Sukanta, from The Dutchman (implied to be a high-ranking Dutch East Indies officer) after the latter insulted him for his work as a salt trader. Therefore, Sukanta changes the color of the house every year during Eid celebrations to keep it from reverting into its original white hue. Decades after the purchase, Pardi, Sukanta's son and Zico's grandfather, grows to be a rebellious adolescent who often runs away from home to pursue education in faraway cities. Although initially angered by Pardi's behavior, Sukanta eventually relents and conveys his approval of Pardi on his deathbed. Years later, Pardi becomes confined to the house due to a marriage arrangement. To distract himself from his unideal situation, he builds a number of landmarks around the house, such as a small library and an impression of the Maneken Pis statue. He uses these facilities as a way to bond and tell stories, such as Indonesian folklore, to a young Zico. In the closing narration, Zico reminisces the good memories he had in the Ciamis house and how his time with his grandfather continues to inspire him and his work to this day.