South Korean director Lee Hwan-kyung has signed a production deal with Jakarta-based Falcon Pictures for “Gashigogi,” a drama set in Indonesia that depicts fatherhood and the sacrifices of fathers. Filming is expected to begin in the next few months.
“To tell such an intimate story, I sought a partnership based on emotional resonance, not just commercial scale,” Lee said. “We are deeply impressed by the dedication of producers Frederica and HB Naveen. Their dedication to the heart of filmmaking is why Falcon Pictures is the unique home for this story.”
The project’s title and central conceit is taken from the biology of sticklebacks, where the male guards the eggs alone after the female leaves. He aerates the nest, fights off predators until his body weakens, and eventually provides his own meat as the first food for consumption by his offspring.
Director Lee, whose 2013 film Miracle in Cell 7 became a cultural reference point across Asia and inspired a record-breaking Indonesian remake, has long resisted showing this particular story. “I avoided this story for years because the weight of it was too painful,” he admitted.
While “Miracle in Cell No. 7” was devised as a tribute to his daughter, “Gashigogi” is dedicated specifically to his son. By setting the film in Indonesia, Lee aims to draw attention to the country’s deep emphasis on family, faith, and community ties. He emphasized that the project is not a replacement of Korean sentiments, but a new work that is rooted in local storytelling traditions and “breathes with Indonesian lungs.”
“The goal is simple,” Lee added. “I want to make an honest, heartfelt film that when the credits roll, the first thing people want to do is call their father. I want them to understand their parents’ silence before it’s too late.”
