Mandi Madu

(title translation: Bathing in Honey)

Elvi and her husband, Budi, live happily with their daughter, Lia, although he is only a labourer at a traditional market and sometimes a mechanic. Elvi is a wedding singer in their village. They persuade uncle Hamid to have another wife by giving money and jewelry, the legacy of Elvi’s mother, for the marriage expenses. Happiness is destroyed by the uncle’s wife, Nur, a former prostitute. She is deceitful and slanderous and treats Elvi as her own slave. Since it is getting more difficult for Budi to find jobs in the village, he moves to the city to work in a garage owned by Yeni, whom he once helped. Elvi is slandered for having an affair so she runs away from home. Budi, who initially is going to pick her up, believes the false news. Elvi and Lia, who are now neglected, see him walking with another woman. The woman is the girl he rescues from a handbag-snatching incident. She then invites him for a few drinks until he gets drunk and in the end, they live together. Hamid divorces his wife and looks for Elvi and Lia. He sees Budi at the girl’s place, who later learns the sad story. Hamid advises him to go back to his wife and daughter. Budi does not accept Hamid’s explanation. By chance, Lia and Elvi spot Hamid passing by on the street. They have just escaped from a rape attempt. Lia runs to him and a car hits her and she is hospitalised. Hamid calls a friend of Budi at the garage and he goes directly to the hospital to ask for forgiveness.