ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how success is represented in three Indonesian children’s films: Surau and Silek (2017), Little Chefs (2018), and The Adventure of Catching the Thunderbolts (2018). The films advocate that spiritual achievement is more important than material gains and promote the idea that adherence to traditional values is the recipe for success. The chapter argues that success for Indonesian children is more than academic achievement; rather, success is to be part of the community. The children navigate their dreams through finding spiritual contentment, preserving tradition, and gaining respect from others because of their self-restraint, loyalty, and benevolence.
