Galeb Husein

A caricature sketch of life in a modest flats.

Heartbroken because her future husband has a wife, Nurlela (Eva Arnaz) goes to the city to look for work. After a successful career, many men love her. Unfortunately, all are married. Nurlela turned around to play with these men. Meanwhile, Mugeni (Rano Karno), Nurlela's sister, is asked by her superior, Murtado (Sunjoto Adibroto), to find a mate who looks like Nurlela. Aisyah's mother (Nani Wijaya) also appears who wants to match Nurlela with Jupri (Eddy Riwanto).

Partoyo, a big-time businessman, abandons his family because of work. A sociopolitical snapshot of Jakarta in the changing governance.

Irma a.k.a Ananda must struggle through the obstacle of her life for which she might or might not earns something better for her life.

A Javanese mother has to struggle to lead their children against a complex confusion of their age. Unfortunately, the mother realized that actually, her children are trying to lead her too.

The film begins with a doctor explaining breast cancer and its detection methods. Then we learn that Kartika must have one of her breasts removed before the cancer spreads. To relieve her grief, she leaves for Switzerland, where she meets Maruli, a newly graduated doctor from Germany who works at a restaurant before going home. A romance occurs that results in marriage, even though his uncle does not agree with it, for the sake of a family tradition. After the marriage, Maruli is disappointed. He feels cheated after learning of Kartika’s breast removal. His mother is furious. He is reminded that his intention to study medicine is to help his mother, who was also left behind by her husband, Maruli's father, after her breast removal. He then returns to his wife, Kartika.

Samboja, a thug who controls an area, catches Ceking and his friends who are trying to rape two girls, Dyah Setiowati and Marlina. Samboja tries to help and is stabbed. Samboja is thought to be the rapist and is arrested. One of the victims, Dyah Setiowati, defends him to the police and he is released. But this incident makes him an enemy of the drug syndicate, who the rapist Ceking works for. Although his friend, Leo, who also works for the syndicate, defends him, the drug boss orders his men to kill Samboja. Dyah, the daughter of a cultural attaché, sympathises with him, especially when she finds out that he visits the daughter of Astri, the prostitute, in the orphanage.

Dewi, who has many love problems with her boyfriends, falls into the arms of Dayan, her boss, who also has a problem after becoming a successful businessman. Being told by his doctor that he has only a few months left to live, he suddenly feels the emptiness at home. His wife, Anneke, has her own occupation. His two children are studying abroad, while the youngest rarely sleeps at home and eventually dies while playing Russian roulette. Dayan and Dewi find a mutual need to release the burden. The situation changes with the appearance of Ferico, an old school friend of Dewi, who continues to pursue her after his divorce. Both Dayan and Dewi finally return to their partners. Director Arifin chooses a “poetic” style of telling the story so that the storyline follows the internal conflicts of the characters. The poetry is also characterized by slick photography.