This paper examines the 1988 Indonesian film Istri Muda (The Young Wife) directed by Ackyl Anwari, focusing on the narrative device of guna-guna (love magic/sorcery) employed by the second wife to destabilize the first wife and dominate the husband. The study explores three main consequences: psychological deterioration of the first wife, moral and social decay within the household, and the eventual karmic retribution depicted in the film. Using a qualitative interpretive method grounded in Javanese mystical anthropology, the paper argues that the film serves as a cautionary tale against the misuse of supernatural powers in polygamous conflicts. Findings indicate that guna-guna leads not to lasting happiness but to paranoia, loss of free will, and destruction of familial harmony.
By late 1988, the darkness Rosa invited began to hunger for more. The magic didn't just blind Haris; it began to drain him. He grew gaunt, his eyes sunken and yellow. He started seeing things—shadowy figures standing in the corners of his bedroom, their long fingers reaching for his throat. akibat guna guna istri muda 1988 new
If you want to explore further, let me know if you would like a between Mbah Roso and Ninik Tumbal, or a comparison with the recent modern remakes! Share public link This paper examines the 1988 Indonesian film Istri