Tinggal Meninggal

“Tinggal Meninggal” (Better Off Dead) is the acclaimed directorial debut of Kristo Immanuel, produced by Ernest Prakasa under the Imajinari banner. The dark comedy stars Omara Esteghlal as Gema, a socially awkward man who becomes addicted to the sudden influx of sympathy and attention he receives after his father passes away. To keep the validation flowing, Gema begins a chaotic spiral of lies about further family tragedies, forcing him to navigate increasingly absurd situations while literally arguing with his personified “inner child” (Jared Ali).

The film’s official poster vividly captures this surreal premise, featuring Gema standing with a wide, manic grin in the center of a liang lahat (grave) uniquely constructed from piles of cardboard boxes. While the other characters appear trapped or somber within the grave, Gema’s joyful expression amid the cardboard—a symbol of the “fake” tragedies he’s manufactured—perfectly encapsulates the film’s commentary on the desperate search for attention. A major critical success, the film swept the JAFF-Indonesian Screen Awards 2025, winning Best Film, Best Directing, and Best Performance for Omara Esteghlal.