What happens when psychological trauma has a physical manifestation? Netflix’s Indonesian film, A Normal Woman, is centered around Milla, the stay-at-home wife of a prominent businessman, Jonathan. Milla never really took into account her inner turmoil and conflict and had focused most of her married life on becoming a perfect wife. But gradually, the past she’d forgotten started to resurface, and Milla had to make sense of her dreams and hallucinations. Was Milla suffering from a mental health crisis, or was it her body and mind begging her to remember her true self?
Spoiler Alert
How Did Milla’s Sickness Affect Her Relationship?
Jonathan was a mama’s boy; he’d always publicly credited his mother for his success, and obeying her was his ultimate goal in life. He didn’t feel the need to mention Milla while discussing his success story. He only mentioned her to highlight how generous his family was in accepting a woman from a modest background as his wife. Milla’s devotion attracted Jonathan, and her timidity made her a perfect fit for the family. Milla was expected to cater to every whim and wish of her mother-in-law, Liliana. If she ever failed, she was humiliated and told that she was nothing but a disappointment. Milla never protested, but the constant insults had started to wear her down. She wanted to be more than just a pretty face her husband flaunted in public. But she had no idea who she was, and the trauma of her mind not being in sync with her heart reflected on her skin. Milla noticed rashes on her neck, and she felt the urge to vigorously scratch the spot, resulting in a bloody mess. Milla also started to see the face of a little girl in the mirror, and she was petrified when she realized that the girl’s face was covered in pieces of broken glass.
The doctor clarified that her rashes were not caused by any allergic reaction. He suspected that it was a psychological issue, and Milla needed to rest to feel better. Even though Milla was clearly sick, neither Jonathan nor his mother tried to be there for her. Jonathan was repulsed seeing Milla’s rashes up close, and he refused to make love to her. Liliana mocked her—she didn’t think Milla had any reason to stress, and she was once again reminded of her privilege. Milla’s daughter, Angel, was the only one in the family who sympathized with her. Angel suffered from an inferiority complex because of her appearance, and in a way, she blamed Milla for looking too pretty next to her. She had wanted to undergo cosmetic surgery, but Milla was against her decision. Angel thought her mother would never understand her. But after Milla fell sick, Angel noticed how everyone around started to either move away or act hostile around her. She could sense that it was a painful experience for her mother, and even though she couldn’t fully comprehend what Milla was going through, she stood by her.
Who was Erika?
Liliana looked forward to her 70th birthday party, and she had booked Erika to do her makeup. Looking slim was her priority, and Erika promised to live up to her expectations. From the moment Erika stepped into the mansion, one could already sense that she was envious of Milla’s life. She stared at Jonathan and Milla’s portraits, secretly wishing to replace Milla. Liliana and Angel were impressed by her skill, especially Angel, who couldn’t thank her enough for her makeup transformation. Erika used this opportunity to ask Angel about her mother, and she eventually revealed that she and Milla used to be childhood best friends. Angel suggested Erika secretly meet her mother, who was locked up in her room. Milla didn’t recognize Erika at first, but she gradually remembered that she knew a girl named Erika when she was young. Milla asked her if she could tell her what had happened to her, but even Erika didn’t have the answers. All she knew was that, after an accident, Milla had lost her memory, and eventually her mother left town with her. Erika promised to help Milla rediscover her past, and while she pretended to have Milla’s best interests at heart, it soon became evident that she didn’t really care about Milla. She simply wanted to use the situation to her advantage. Erika’s dream was to marry a rich man and live a prosperous life, and she was envious of Milla because she was living her dream.
What Happened To Grace?
From the moment Milla started to hallucinate, she felt a connection with the name ‘Grace.’ The child she often saw in the mirror had mentioned Grace, but she couldn’t figure out their relationship. Even Irah, who’d raised Milla, mistakenly referred to her as Grace one day. After meeting Erika, she realized that she used to be Grace and not Milla when she was a child. She’d lost her memory in an accident, and her mother decided to give her a new identity—Milla. So, why did the image of the little girl suddenly start to haunt her? It can be assumed that years of repression had resulted in such a severe outburst. She internally didn’t feel like herself anymore, and that was why the child in her had started to remind her of the person she once was, and the dreams she once held dear. She gradually remembered that Erika was always considered the prettier between the two of them, and her mother always criticized her for the way she looked. Milla finally remembered that one morning before heading to church, she had wanted to wear a headband, but her mother insulted her, stating that she didn’t need to look fancy and a headband would not fix her appearance. The remark had left Grace heartbroken, and she wasn’t able to pay attention to anything around her. A couple of men were carrying a large mirror, and instead of moving out of the way, Grace stared at her reflection, wondering if what her mother had said was true. The mirror fell on Grace, and she was immediately hospitalized. Her face was scarred, and she had to get cosmetic surgery. She lost her memory as well, and her mother decided to give her a new name so that she could start her life afresh. Her mother, who’d always been critical of her, only started to appreciate her post-surgery. She knew that her daughter’s beauty would one day help her get out of poverty. She’d groomed Milla to attract men like Jonathan.
Why did Milla rebel?
After the accident, Milla had no clue who she was and what she wanted from life. She simply did what her mother told her to, and later she continued to follow the same routine with her husband and her mother-in-law. But the child in her wanted Milla to rebel and accept the side of her that was quietly buried away. Meanwhile, Jonathan started to question his marriage altogether. Instead of trying to understand Milla, he expressed his disappointment in her. He felt he was cheated after Erika showed him an old picture of Milla before her surgery. He decided it was best for Milla to stay out of the public eye. Erika started to show up more often. She cooked meals to impress Liliana, and she tried to be Jonathan’s shoulder to cry on. Angel saw through the act, and she made it very clear that she didn’t appreciate her presence. Instead of being jealous of Erika, Milla encouraged her to live in her shoes for a while. She gifted Erika her dress and the necklace that she always used to wear. She wanted Erika to realize that the life that looked magical and dreamy from afar was not an easy one to live. Erika changed into Milla’s dress, and her demure look had many mistaking her for Milla.
While Erika tried her best to fit in, Milla chose to rebel. She had her gardener, Hatta, unlock her room, and she stepped out wearing a red dress. Just when Liliana was about to cut her birthday cake, Milla snatched the knife from her and destroyed the cake. The incident immediately gathered media attention, and the party ended in chaos. Erika stayed by Liliana’s side and reassured her that it was not her fault. Meanwhile, Jonathan went live and told his audience that his wife was mentally ill, and to save his brand image, he announced that his company, ‘Eternal Life,’ would develop a range of supplements catering to those struggling with mental health. Erika supported his decision, and Jonathan held her tight as he broke into tears. Erika’s mission had been successful, and she could finally see herself as Jonathan’s second wife.
Why did Milla run away?
Milla learned that Irah’s son, Hatta, had decided to return to his hometown to work in the rice fields. He also looked forward to celebrating the harvest festival known as ‘Ngareremokeun.’ Milla was intrigued when she found out about the festival, and she made up her mind to run away from her house and permanently move to the countryside to feel more connected to her real self. Before leaving, Milla asked Angel if she wanted to come along with her. While Angel supported her mother, she didn’t think she was meant to abandon the life she already had. That was not her dream, and she hoped her mother would understand. She promised to find Milla, and that was all that her mother needed to hear.
When Liliana and Jonathan left the house in the morning, Milla decided to leave. Her mother tried to stop her and accused her of being selfish. She reminded Milla how expensive the surgery was, and how, without it, they would have struggled to stay afloat. Milla couldn’t believe that her mother was still trying to justify erasing her identity altogether. She told Milla that she did it for her own happiness, but of course that was never the case. She asked her mother to let her go if she truly cared about her happiness. Her mother demanded she pay back all her expenses. Milla grabbed hold of a pair of scissors and scarred her face with it, stating that now she didn’t owe her mother anything anymore. She threatened to hurt her mother as well if she dared to stop her. Her mother got injured during the struggle, but Irah reassured her that she would handle the situation. Angel, too, encouraged her mother to leave before it was too late. It can be assumed that Milla’s mother survived the incident.
What does the final scene suggest?
A Normal Woman’s ending can be interpreted in two ways—either Milla managed to run away, or she was still stuck in the house dreaming of her freedom. In the final scene, we see Milla escaping from her house in Hatta’s truck, followed by shots of her in a village living a peaceful life. Maybe Milla’s dream had come true. Perhaps she finally managed to leave the house that had turned into a suffocating chamber for her. As a child, Milla/Grace’s dream was to be free; that’s all she ever wanted, and maybe she finally won her freedom. In the village shots, we witness Milla living a modest life; her scars had healed, and she was at peace. Being close to nature and away from all expectations was the life she’d always envisioned for herself. And possibly, in her own way, Milla taught her daughter a crucial lesson—beauty was not the key to finding happiness; rather, it was staying true to oneself that mattered. Or, perhaps, what we see is only her wishful dreaming, and she is yet to figure out how she would make her dream come true. The dreamy texture, the empty village and the fact that Milla had been hallucinating all through the film leave a lot of room for the audience to wonder if it was even real. She might still be stuck in the house; perhaps her husband and his mother stopped the truck on the way, and Milla never really got to escape. A Normal Woman leaves it up to the audience to decide which version of the ending they would want to believe in.
