In Jakarta, Indonesia, Ari Munandar, 25, and his friends endure the hardship and health risks of being "silvermen" – covered in metallic paint to beg for money at traffic intersections. Driven by rising living costs and job scarcity post-pandemic, they perform robotic poses for drivers, earning a meager income, often around RM51 on a good day, far below Jakarta's minimum wage. Ari expresses shame but feels compelled to beg to support his family. The price of staples like rice has significantly increased, and the undernourished men cite a lack of job opportunities, with Ari having been unemployed since 2019. Poverty in Jakarta has risen, and economic analysts note a surge in begging after the 2021 pandemic. After hours of begging, they return to their slum dwelling, where Ari struggles to remove the irritating paint, a process that initially caused burns. Despite the difficulties, the sight of his young daughter brings him joy, though he hopes she never has to resort to begging.