Stories from the Cast and Creators of A Normal Woman

todaystageJuly 23, 20250 Comment

Netflix held a Press Conference and Special Screening of A Normal Woman at Plaza Senayan XXI, Jakarta, on July 23, 2025. The event featured the film’s cast and creators, ahead of the original Netflix Indonesia film directed by Lucky Kuswandi, which will premiere tomorrow, July 24, 2025.

photo by netflix

The Story and Inspiration Behind A Normal Woman

Written by Lucky Kuswandi and Andri Cung, the film follows the story of Milla (played by Marissa Anita), a socialite who believes she is suffering from an unknown illness. As her condition begins to disrupt her life, Milla must uncover the mystery behind her illness before it’s too late.

During the press conference, Lucky shared his vision for A Normal Woman, which touches on themes of self-discovery and the societal pressures faced by women.“The initial idea came from my interest in the concept of healing, which I see as self-retrieval—taking back the parts of ourselves that have been lost or erased because we have to play certain roles. Our bodies then send alarms that something is wrong with how we’re living, and this shows up in many forms,” Lucky explained.

Andri Cung added,“From our conversations and observations, we realized that we live in a society that isn’t quite okay. There are so many things considered ‘normal’ and pressures to present ourselves in certain ways to impress others, which leads us to forget our true selves. But in this film, we don’t want to villainize anyone—everyone has their reasons and faces their own pressures, so every action has its roots.”

Marissa Anita’s Reflection on Playing Milla

Playing the lead role of Milla, Marissa Anita shared what she learned from her involvement in the film.“Living with Milla before and during filming taught me the importance of authenticity. Nowadays, women play many roles—as wives, mothers, daughters caring for parents or in-laws, and as professionals. Milla’s life is devoted to others, and that’s fine if it comes from a stable place. The ideal is to give to others but also give to yourself.”“What I learned from Milla’s story is that in life, don’t forget to give to yourself so you can keep giving to others. Like a tree with deep roots, when we face life’s ups and downs, we stay grounded and continue to give.”

Marissa also explained how she shaped Milla’s character through discussions with Lucky, reading The Myth of Normal by Gabor and Daniel Maté, and drawing from her own experiences.“Everyone experiences something similar to what Milla feels—being a people pleaser—but in Milla’s case, it’s multiplied a hundred or a thousand times. She’s never been accepted as she is and has had to mold herself to be loved by others.”

Insights from the Supporting Cast

The film also stars Dion Wiyoko, Gisella Anastasia, Widyawati, Mima Shafa, and Maya Hasan. They shared their perspectives on their characters and what they took away from the experience:

Gisella Anastasia on playing Erika:

“Every character is created with reason. If Erika seems ‘bad,’ she has her reasons. Playing a morally gray character wasn’t easy. I learned not to judge her because she probably went through a tough life and wants certain things. The amazing team helped us explore every layer of the character deeply.”
Widyawati as Liliana, Milla’s mother-in-law:

“Liliana is a dominant mother figure. The daughter-in-law feels obedient and fearful because she must follow her mother-in-law’s wishes, even though not everything the mother-in-law does is right. Liliana creates distance with her daughter-in-law. Personally, in a marriage, two families become one, and I consider my daughter-in-law as my own child. Her problems are our problems and must be solved together.”
Mima Shafa as Angel:

“Angel represents the foundation of family. Although young, she understands her mother. What I learned here, which I also practice in real life, is that we must break the cycle of intergenerational trauma. Angel is brave enough to do that with her parents and stands up for herself.”
Maya Hasan as Novi, Milla’s mother:“Novi is an extreme version of a mother—like a ‘what not to do’ checklist for parenting. She reminds us that children are not investments to be exploited but a trust to be cared for. Novi is an example of transactional love, whereas I believe that in a family, children and parents grow together, and that’s where unconditional love lives.”

A Powerful and Emotionally Charged Experience

Wrapped in tension, drama, and stunning visuals, A Normal Woman offers a moving viewing experience. Through complex characters and dynamics, the film invites audiences to explore relatable themes—ideal household expectations, social pressures and reputations, the search for identity, and unresolved past wounds.

Lucky expressed his hopes for the film:“Through our work, we want to offer something that sparks conversation. Not all viewers need to agree with what we present, but hopefully it encourages reflection on how we live our lives today.”