Set in 1932, Samsara follows the story of Darta, a young man from a humble background who works as a servant in a Balinese aristocratic household. There, he grows up alongside Sinta, a noble-born girl of Balinese and American descent, bound tightly by her family’s rigid traditions. Their friendship begins in childhood and blossoms into love as they enter their twenties.
But their love is deemed impossible.
Darta, a bamboo craftsman’s son, is seen as unworthy of Sinta’s hand. When he finally musters the courage to propose, Sinta’s family rejects him without hesitation. Heartbroken and humiliated, Darta leaves home in despair.
During his wandering, he encounters a shaman who tells him the tale of the Monkey King’s sacrificial ritual—a dark path to power and wealth. Driven by obsession and desperation, Darta chooses the forbidden.
He makes a pact with the Monkey King, exchanging his soul for the influence and riches that could finally win Sinta’s family’s approval. And it works. The couple is allowed to marry, and for a moment, it seems like their love might triumph after all.
But every dark bargain has a price.
Unbeknownst to him, Darta has cursed Sinta and their child to a lifetime of suffering. Consumed by guilt, he tries to break the pact, angering the Monkey King who now demands repayment.
To save his family, Darta must confront the consequences of his choices and challenge the supernatural force he once relied upon—stepping beyond the boundaries of fate, morality, and human limitation.
Cast of Samsara (2025)
The film features a powerful ensemble cast, including:
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Ario Bayu as Darta
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Juliet Burnett as Sinta
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I Putu Bagus Bang Sada Graha Saputra as the Monkey King
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Valentine Payen-Wicaksono as Sinta’s Mother
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Tara Anindya Butterfly as Young Sinta
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Cok Sawitri
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Alit Aryani Willems
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I Wayan Wira Kusuma
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Siko Setyanto
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Ketut Arini
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And more
With its poetic storytelling, myth-inspired horror, and Garin Nugroho’s signature artistic touch, Samsara promises to be one of the most captivating Indonesian films of the year.
Can’t wait to experience it on the big screen? You’re definitely not alone.
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