A documentary series that traces the cultural and ecological significance of souring agents (known collectively as pacukka) in the cuisine of South Sulawesi. A humble ingredient which turns out to shape not just the taste, but also the economy, ecology, and even the spirituality of the community.
Through five vivid portraits—Lime, Camba, Patikala, Kaloko Pao, and Uriang—the film offers a sensory journey across kitchens, riverbanks, forests, and markets, revealing how food is deeply entangled with land, memory, and identity. Presented with warmth and humour, Pacukka explores how the sour palate of the region speaks to a broader cultural philosophy, one that values resilience, improvisation, and relational knowledge. As we taste ingredients drawn from these stories, we invite audiences to reflect on food not only as nourishment, but as a carrier of ancestral memory, ecological care, and embodied wisdom.
