Love, Tears, and More Tears— Miracle in Cell no.7 Review

"This isn't a Christian movie!" my sister screamed through her text when I dramatically asked her if the movie she just recommended was a Christian movie or not. It was because of the name, and I'm not a fan of religious dramas. Also, she hyped it up as the most emotional movie I would ever see, so I went in with a bit of resistance, determined not to cry, just to prove her wrong. I stayed strong for the first half of the movie. But the second half? I didn’t sob, not like I did when I watched *The Moon Embracing the Sun* but tears rolled down my cheeks, quiet and a bit persistent. Though it's very dramatic, it's still the kind of movie that stays with you long after you're done watching it.

About the Movie

Miracle in Cell No. 7 is a 2022 Indonesian adaptation of a movie of the same name produced in South Korea in 2013.
It is directed by Hanung Bramantyo and stars Vino G. Bastian as Dodo Rozak. In the movie, he is a mentally challenged man who is falsely accused of a crime and imprisoned. His daughter, Ika Kartika, is the emotional heart of the story. She is a bright, loving child whose bond with her father is unbreakable even behind prison walls.
The movie explores deep social themes such as class inequality, wrongful judgment, the strength of family, and the painful flaws of the legal system.

The Storyline

Dodo Rozak is a simple poor balloon seller with a mental disability. He lives a quiet life with his young daughter, Ika, who is his entire world.

The first incident in the movie occurs when a government official's daughter misses her dog, and Dodo sees it get run over by a moving truck. He tries explaining what happened to the girl's mother but ends up being mistaken as the one who killed the dog. The next time the girl sees Dodo, she angrily tries to avoid him by running away; in the process, she slips and falls into a swimming pool. Dodo manages to get her out of the pool, but she is already dead. He removes her clothes so she wouldn't catch a cold; something his wife used to tell him. However, he is misunderstood by the girl's family and is forced to confess by the police. What follows is a painful journey through a justice system that treats the vulnerable with cruelty and indifference.

Inside Cell No. 7, Dodo eventually wins over his hardened cellmates with his innocence and kindness. With their help, Ika is smuggled into the prison to visit her father in secret.
Years later, an adult Ika Kartika becomes a lawyer, not for herself, but to right the wrong done to her father and clear his name as a murderer.

My Opinion

I watched this movie with the mindset that I wouldn’t cry. But the last half of the movie was something else. I believe what got me wasn’t just the injustice, but the quiet resilience of Ika and the purity of Dodo’s love for her. It reminded me how easy it is for society to trample the weak, and how rare, but powerful, love can be in the middle of that darkness.

Ika Kartika’s character especially stood out. Her decision to become a lawyer not for ambition but for her father's sake was deeply moving. Her strength, loyalty, and courage were a beautiful contrast to the cruelty she witnessed growing up.

However, it’s clear that the filmmakers had one main objective: to make the audience cry. And while they achieve that, the cost is evident, aside from Dodo, Ika, and the prison's captain, other characters weren't well developed, and a few plot-turns feel more like emotional devices than natural progressions.
Also, I wasn't satisfied with the ending—the lack of justice. The people who wronged Dodo never apologized or faced the consequences. This made me feel like it was unfair and incomplete.

Recommendation

Miracle in Cell No. 7 isn’t a movie you just “watch.” It’s a movie where you feel like you're part of Dodo's family. If you’re in the mood for something deeply emotional, centered around family, sacrifice, and injustice, then this is worth your time.
Remember, it’s not perfect, but it hits where it matters most: the heart. Just be prepared to cry, even if you think you won’t:)
It deserves a good 8.5 out of 10.

_{I watched the one with ENG Sub title.}

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