At the heart of My Little Peng You is Ci Mei Hua (played by Miena), a resilient single mother from the Hokkien-Chinese community in Medan. By day, she works tirelessly at a rice mill. By night, she tends to her son, A Liang (Wendy Fu), a young boy on the autism spectrum. Life for this duo is anything but easy—especially with the weight of social stigma bearing down on them.

But life takes a turn with the arrival of Adi (Jerick Aldiansyah), a wandering street musician with a troubled past. At first, suspicion and hesitation cloud their interactions. Yet over time, a delicate bond forms. Adi, rough around the edges but kind-hearted, begins to open up a world of new possibilities for both Ci Mei Hua and A Liang. Together, the trio forges a non-traditional yet deeply loving and understanding family.

What makes this film particularly special is its authentic use of the Medan Hokkien dialect throughout—from the opening scene to the closing credits. This choice breathes life into the local Chinese-Indonesian culture, highlighting traditions, values, and the nuances of a community often underrepresented in cinema.

My Little Peng You delivers more than just a heartfelt drama—it brings a powerful social message about inclusion and acceptance of neurodivergent children. With a gentle narrative and warm storytelling, Indonesian Film Censorship Institution (LSF) rated this touching feature as suitable for all ages. (irf)