Movie director Nia Dinata invites audiences to see "queer joy" through the story of Raminten Cabaret in Yogyakarta, a space where Javanese tradition and queer expression coexist.
The Indonesian Queer Collective (IQC) screened Nia Dinata's documentary Raminten Universe: Life is a Cabaret at The Substation, Darlinghurst, Sydney, on 18 June 2026 as part of Pride Fest 2026. The event was sold out.
The 95-minute film tells the story of the late Hamzah Sulaiman, founder of Raminten Cabaret in Yogyakarta. The cabaret blends traditional Javanese dance with Western cabaret.
Nia Dinata, known for fiction films such as Arisan! and Berbagi Suami, said she had long been a patron of Raminten and felt compelled to document its world.
"After long days on set, Raminten Cabaret was where we'd unwind. I knew I had to make a documentary about Raminten's world one day," she told SBS Indonesian.
The documentary, Dinata said, is a way to show a side of Indonesia rarely seen from the outside. International perception, she said, often paints the country as conservative and intolerant of difference, when the world of Raminten tells a very different story.
Hamzah Sulaiman passed away in April 2025 at the age of 75, while the production team was still editing the film. His death ultimately became part of the film itself.
After long days on set, Raminten Cabaret was where we'd unwind. I knew I had to make a documentary about Raminten's world one day,Nia Dinata
Hanna Ulfah, a member of the Indonesian Queer Collective who attended the screening, said she was deeply moved by the film while watching it in Sydney. The most memorable moment for her, she said, was when a Raminten worker in the film described coming to the cabaret even on days off. They came not to work, but to be with their chosen family.
What makes Raminten unique, Dinata said, is its diverse audience. Its crowds range from mothers and teenagers to the queer community.
Listen to the full interview on the SBS Indonesian podcast.
