The movie Sutun resembles the identity crisis in individual life and the challenges he faces as he goes through the adolescence stage. Characters in this movie are Adik, Abah, Ibu, Adik’s sister, Shamsul, Syuk, Adik’s girl friend and Abang Khalid.
Movie Plot
A character that I chose would be Adik, the main character in the movie. He is the only son of a retired soldier and a housewife. He is a teenage boy who got picked on by people around him because of his girlish appearance and attitudes. At home, his father will constantly scold him as he dislikes his girlish attitudes. Abah does not like the way he eats, the way he sits or the way he talks. While at school, a group of misvchiveuos students will bully him, stealing his meals and call him names.
Luckily, he still has good support systems that still appreciate and love him the way he is. His days went dull since his father abused him after a villager triggered his father on his son’s girlish personalities as he unable to contain his anger and embarrassment. Apart from that, he got close to Syuk, a new student who just got transferred to his school. Rumors surround them as they got too close and started thinking they are going out as a gay couple. Due to the rumors, Syuk got embarrassed and decided to cut ties with Adik. One day as he walked home from school, he met Abang Khalid, a queer and he persuaded Adik to follow his lead to explore the gay culture and move to Kuala Lumpur with him. As Adik is fully consoled, he left home but due to getting scared and unable to adapt to the changes, he went back home and embrace his father. In the end, he still chooses to be a normal boy with the same personality, but wiser.
How does this character reflect Erikson’s view of the identity crisis faced by adolescents?
Psychosocial development theory discussed by Erik Erikson on identity and uncertainty. This stage occurs between the ages of about 12 and 18, during adolescence. Adolescents are discovering their independence during this phase and establishing a sense of self. The disagreement is based on establishing a personal identity during the identity versus uncertainty period. Completing this stage successfully results in a powerful sense of self which will remain throughout life (Arnold, 2017).
In the movie, Adik did face an identity crisis where he dresses and acts like a girl and not adopting any boy characteristics. This is mainly due to the influence of surrounding and upbringing. For instance in the movie, since baby, Adik’s mother dressed him up in girl clothes and gave him girl toys. In addition, he also introduced to queer’s world by Abang Khalid who gives him makeover as a pretty lady which results in him being in favored of being a girl. As in the stage, it is said that the conscious sense of self that we build through social interaction, which is continually evolving in our everyday encounters with others as a result of new experiences and knowledge we gain. In the end, he resolved the crisis and developed the virtue of fidelity after the knowledge and experienced he encountered.
In which of Marcia’s identity status is the main character?
The identity status applied to Adik is identity achievement. This is the status in which the adolescent has undergone an identity crisis and is committed to a sense of identity he or she has chosen (Marcia, 1966). Adik went through an identity crisis of his gender identity and eventually chose an identity after facing enough struggles and resolves many circumstances. From a confused teenage boy who aspire to be a girl and felt right about it, he elevated into a matured, strong-willed boy who obtained a fidelity identity.
Adik getting a makeover as a girl 
Adik grows to be a person with a fidelity identity
Choices regarding sexual behavior and how did the character handle the choices?
Adik initially chose to be in the queer community and discover the disadvantages behind it. He handled the choice so badly that he got worried as he sees the reality of the streets, he chose to go home and repent. He chose to be true to himself, which is the person he was born as and still adopt the character he developed as he grows.
Character’s relationships with parents and siblings
Adik more of a mommy’s boy and acts awkwardly with his dad. When he got scolded by his father, his mother will persuade him as every mother will. As with siblings, he is a good elder sibling to his sister. His sister does not mock him and does not support him, she is just a child nevertheless, she has not understand things quite well. On the other hand, his father will scold him and abuse him out of anger and embarrassment. As a father and conservative religious man, he surely is disappointed with his son’s appearance and knowing very well the villagers have been mocking him for letting his son appears as queer and gay.
Adik with his mother. 
Adik getting punished by his father.
As a good person and son, Adik never resent his father nor rebel towards his father, he still loves him nonetheless. In the end, his dad felt sorry and his sincerity can be seen as he softly caresses Adik while he is asleep. At some point, Adik runs from home as he made up his mind to become a queer, but face challenges and unable to adapt to the situation. He met a homeless queer and discover the reality of becoming one. He went back home knowing will get punished but he got a hug from his father.
How riendships and romantic relationships influenced the character’s decisions?
What influence him is Abang Khalid, who introduced him to the queer world. Adik is a confused teenage boy who is not a queer but only has soft personalities. Abang Khalid tries to help Adik with his struggles and introduce him to make up. He makes Adik thinks he looks pretty in the makeups and wigs and persuades him to work in the streets with him. He runs from home and works with Abang Khalid.
Not long after that, he gave up and went back home after a homeless man who used to be queer told him the reality of being in the queer community. He influenced Adik’s choice and advise him to not stray away.
References
Arnold, M. E. (2017). Supporting adolescent exploration and commitment: Identity formation, thriving, and positive youth development. Journal of Youth Development, 1-15.
Marcia, J. E. (1966). Development and validation of ego-identity status. Journal of personality and social psychology, 551.
Aesthetic Disaster 