Rumah Ketigaku (My Third Home)

Facing the heartbreak of separation from her family and the challenges of a labor dispute, an Indonesian domestic worker in Hong Kong finds solace and solidarity in a migrant shelter.

Documentary Short Film
Directed by: Francis Catedral
Produced by: Lydia Catedral, Sringatin, Daniel Anugerah, Joyous Prim, Sonia Wong
Language: Bahasa, Sasak with English Subtitles
Runtime: 21 minutes
Press Kit: Documentary Trailer | Promotional Images

IG: @rumahketigaku

Produced under the Story Fellowship from BEBESEA in collaboration with New Naratif.

Synopsis:

After being unjustly terminated due to illness, Yuliani finds shelter in Hong Kong's Bethune House - a temporary home for migrant workers in crisis. Through intimate phone calls with her children, candid reflections on her struggles, and emotional court preparations, Ruma Ketigaku (My Third Home) paints a poignant portrait of resilience and hope amidst adversity. As Yuliani confronts the complexities of a labor case, the film highlights the strength found in community, the weight of familial bonds, and the enduring fight for justice and dignity among Hong Kong's Indonesian migrant workers.

Director Statement:

Growing up as a Filipino immigrant in the U.S., I struggled to find my place in dominant society and initially believed that making a difference required wealth and influence to advocate for others. However, over the past five years, my perspective has shifted through my time with migrant domestic worker activists in Hong Kong. These migrants, despite financial and social constraints, fight tirelessly for migrant rights. Their courage and solidarity have shown me that true change is not driven by individual power, but by the collective struggle for justice.

As a Filipino American filmmaker, my work is deeply rooted in collaboration with migrant communities. My first documentary, Migrant Women Rise, focused on Filipina migrant worker activism. With Rumah Ketigaku (My Third Home), I continue this work through an observational approach that captures the intimate realities of migrants’ lives while amplifying their voices. This film expands the scope to include Indonesian migrants in Hong Kong, exploring both their experiences and their advocacy efforts.

Central to the community-based approach to creating Rumah Ketigaku is my partnership with producer Sringatin, an Indonesian migrant rights activist who has worked as a domestic worker in Hong Kong for many years. Sringatin has contributed significantly to shaping the story and has taken the lead in involving other Indonesian migrants in the filmmaking process. Sringatin has also contributed original music in Bahasa, which is included in the final soundtrack for the film.

At its core, Rumah Ketigaku is a documentary about migrant struggles and a call to rethink how we value labor, movement, and human dignity. It reflects the process I have gone through as a director and the transformation I have experienced as a result of working with Sringatin and learning from the migrant community in Hong Kong as a whole.

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to BEBESEA and New Naratif for their funding and mentorship through the Story Fellowship program. Deep appreciation to EyeCatcher Global for their support through the International Pitching Forum. Heartfelt thanks to my producers—Lydia Catedral, Sringatin, Daniel Anugerah, Joyous Prim, and Sonia Wong—for their dedication and collaboration. Finally, my deepest gratitude to Yuli and her family in Lombok, the residents of Bethune House, and the migrant women of Hong Kong—love and power to you all in the long and steady fight for justice.