In a dystopian Southeast Asian city, Nenek, a daring grandma-thug, must heist scarce vaccines with her gang of outcasts to save her people and her teetering underground empire from a roach-transmitted disease.

In the slums of Makwan City, a vibrant Southeast Asian metropolis, lives Nenek, a fearless leader of a gang of social outcasts.

When the authorities decide to build a wall around the city center to protect privileged citizens and prevent the spread of a fatal illness spread by roaches, Nenek and her gang are unable to continue extorting the slum workers who require daily access to the city center.

When Joni, Nenek's grandson and youngest member of the gang, begins to show symptoms of the illness, Nenek has only a few days to find the extremely scarce vaccines and save his life.

In order to get the vaccines, Nenek must make a deal with her worst enemies and confront the powerful businessmen who are behind a dirty strategy to increase the price of the vaccines and sell them abroad.

But Nenek is determined to expose the truth and save Joni, and she uses her knowledge of the city and her gang's resources to steal the vaccines and distribute them to the people in the slum. In the end, Nenek triumphs over the greedy pharmaceutical companies and saves her business, her grandson, and the rest of the slum.

Makwan City of Dreams - Nenek is not only a gripping tale of survival but also a profound reflection on societal injustices and the disparities of our modern world. Through Nenek's unwavering spirit and courage, this cinematic journey exemplifies the tenacity of the marginalized, proving that even in the face of overwhelming odds, the human spirit remains unbroken.

During the global pandemic, a sight struck me: a scavenger mother pulling her children on a wagon as I sat in my air-conditioned car. It evoked memories of my mother's sacrifices and a haunting question: 'Why do such disparities exist?' It's more than just money they need; it's hope, opportunities, and the belief they can rise.

Raised in a middle-high class family in Indonesia, I lived in a bubble, blind to the struggles outside. This film aims to puncture that bubble, exposing the stark divide: while some live in luxury, others must toil under the burning sun every single day just to scrape by. The world's imbalance is evident, but through heightened awareness, we can hasten the journey to fairness.

Nenek, our brave grandmother, leads her outcast gang against inequality. Drawing from Snowpiercer and City of God, Makwan City of Dreams explores a divided city and our often-overlooked heroes embark on a heist for vaccines, becoming symbols of justice.

Our protagonist mirrors the determination of many women who fight for their families. This film showcases my hope for a fairer world.