Pantrum

Best Feature Film
Synopsis
Not only kings have tales to tell; even antlions have their own stories.This is the untold story of antlions.In this narrative, there is an old man, a mother, a father, and a son. The old man patiently awaits the people’s uprising to overthrow a President who rose to power from a corrupt family, perpetuating widespread corruption throughout the nation.A child is born when a soldier rapes her at a time of conflict when law and order was abused. At a later stage, the raped woman turns into a suicide bomber. The child born as a consequence of the rape grows up to be a child soldier. After the war, overwhelmed by the trauma and unable to face society, he contemplates suicide. However, a chance encounter with his biological father alters his course. The film explores the ensuing conflict between the father, grappling with PTSD, and the son struggling to find his place post-war. Against the backdrop of post-war consequences and the anguish of mothers who have lost their children, the movie weaves together past and present, connecting a narrative spanning 2500 years with contemporary struggles. Through this, it offers a poignant reflection on the enduring impact of war and the journey toward reconciliation.