Mother always knows best in “Crocodile Tears”. Tumpal Tampubolon’s low-key debut feature charts the unhealthy relationship between a young man and his overbearing mother, gradually shifting from family drama into more supernatural territory. The focus is on the uncomfortable bond between mother and son Johan. Working together, the duo are everything to each other. Mama showers her boy with kisses, demands shoulder massages and holds him close in her arms as they share a bed. There are no boundaries and no privacy. The question of what happened to Johan’s father is one that runs throughout the film, sparking speculation and rumours. While it has all the elements for shlocky B-movie fare the film favours restraint over excess, atmospherics over explanations.

Allan Hunter, Screen International