The Year Without Summer (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Set in one of Jakarta’s most densely populated neighborhoods, The Year Without Summer follows Uus as he returns to a difficult home environment and imagines a future in Japan. His brother Surya, an AC technician, becomes part of that plan as heat, fires and cramped living conditions shape their choices.

The Year Without Summer is an Indonesian drama short set amid extreme heat and fires in Tambora, one of Jakarta’s most densely populated neighborhoods. At 18 minutes, the film centers on a family facing pressure from both their surroundings and the possibility of leaving them behind.

Uus returns after years away and moves in with his brother, Surya. While Uus sees Japan as a route toward a better life, Surya’s circumstances and responsibilities complicate the idea of simply starting over elsewhere.

The Year Without Summer movie details

Story without spoilers

After spending years away, Uus comes back to Tambora to live with Surya, who works as an AC technician. Their home is cramped, and the neighborhood is under the constant threat of fires during a period of extreme heat. Unsettled by these conditions, Uus becomes determined to move to Japan and encourages Surya to go with him.

The film’s central tension comes from the brothers’ response to an increasingly difficult environment. Uus looks outward, imagining a new life abroad, while the situation around them makes any decision about the future more urgent. The supplied premise keeps the focus on their circumstances and plans without revealing how those plans unfold.

What to expect

This is a short-form drama built around family, difficult living conditions and the desire for a better future. The setting of Tambora places extreme heat, neighborhood fires and overcrowding at the center of the story, while the relationship between Uus and Surya gives the premise its personal focus.

With an 18-minute runtime, the film presents its situation in a compact format. Viewers can expect a grounded story about two brothers confronting pressure at home and considering migration, rather than a broad account of the environmental crisis.

Cast and creative team

The film is directed by Rayhan Dharmawan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Lescha Noveeta Caesaryana. The cast includes Rizky Nur Hidayat, Yusuf Cikal Alfaathir and Apos Hutagaol. The supplied credits do not specify character assignments for the performers.

• Rizky Nur Hidayat
• Yusuf Cikal Alfaathir
• Apos Hutagaol

Release and production context

The Year Without Summer is an Indonesian production in the Indonesian language. It has a listed release date of October 22, 2026, and a runtime of 18 minutes. The production companies are Poolside Studios and Jakarta Film Fund. Its genre is drama, and the listed status is Released.

Production companies: Poolside Studios, Jakarta Film Fund

Movies Dock view

The Year Without Summer uses a tightly defined setting and a simple family premise to examine the pressure of remaining in a difficult place versus pursuing a future elsewhere. Its short runtime and focused cast make it a concise Indonesian drama about heat, insecurity and the pull of migration.

Film data:
TMDB