Closing Dynasty (2022)

Closing Dynasty delivers a simple yet emotionally powerful narrative, built effectively within its short runtime and culminating in a satisfying twist that ties the title meaningfully to the plot. Strong performances—especially from young Milinka as Queenie—enhance the film’s emotional depth, supported by thoughtful cinematography, music, and pacing. This short film is highly recommended for those who appreciate heartfelt storytelling packed with subtle meaning.

Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)

"Queenie" (Milinka Winata) is wily beyond her years as she scavenges the streets of New York making her living from recycling bottles and cans, raiding rubbish bins and riding the subway raising money for her school's fictitious netball team. Once or twice, someone bothers to enquire why she isn't at school but for the most part she has a free reign to explore and plunder at will what she can. This doesn't really go anywhere, but there is something engagingly mischievous about Winata's performance and by the conclusion I thought that she could have readily worked for "Fagin" in Dickensian London turning the sow's ear into a silk - or diamante - purse. As an aside to her story, this also showcases just how many people can make quite an industrious living picking through the things we no longer want or by accruing a few cents here and there by selling things that may, or more likely not, have been obtained lawfully. It's the start of something, there might be more to come?