From here
2019 | Director: Chairun Nissa |
I got a free ticket to watch this movie through a giveaway contest. I have barely won any giveaway, so I was very excited when I got it.
The documentary tells seven areas across Indonesia and seven people who are trying to save the environment using the local wisdom and the belief system they hold onto. Watching this movie will remind you that Indonesia is more than just beautiful natural resources, but this equatorial jewel also has rich culture and kind people.
First to be featured in the movie is Bali, a predominantly Hindu community in a predominantly Muslim country. The Hindu community in Bali celebrates Nyepi, Day of Silence, when people are not allowed to light up fire or electronic devices and talk or make any sound. A report says that Nyepi cut 30,000 cubic meter carbon.
From Bali, the film moves to Sungai Utik, West Kalimantan, where a Dayak community tries to guard the forest using the local wisdom that has been passed for generations. For example, in one year, an adult can only cut down three trees (CMIIW). They only hunt boars, and leave the orangutans at peace.
Meanwhile, a community in Pameu, Aceh faces challenge in their life as the wild elephants destroyed the paddy field. Some consider killing or poisoning the elephants, but some others decide to take a step back and let the elephants to roam the land. As Aceh is called the terrace of Mecca, the Islamic cleric gives sermon that emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmony with the environment,
An effort to restore micro hydro power plant in Ruteng, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara is featured in the movie. The Catholic priest leads the community to generate electricity from the rivers, and when a recent flood destroys the turbine house and the levee, the community decides to chip in to bring back the clean energy to their village.
Another local wisdom is shown by the mothers community in Kapatcol, Raja Ampat, Papua as theyput a sasi (a ban to fish or take anything from a certain sea area for a certain period of time) to protect the sea. [Tangent: sasi is a common practice in Maluku and Papua, I once saw similar procession in Kei Kecil island, Maluku.] After the sasi is lifted, the mothers harvest the sea products, only take the big ones and return the small ones back into the sea.
The movie takes us to Yogyakarta, where Bumi Langit is located. The permaculture farming and food forest run by Iskandar Waworuntu and his family teaches audience that there is an alternative for better agriculture system that does not destroy the environment.
Kebun Kumara in Jakarta is the last story to close the movie. Founded by young couple Sandra and Dhira, Kebun Kumara tries to bring the greenery back into urban areas through urban farming. [Tangent: I went here last year for a gardening class, you can check their activity on IG @kebunkumara]
There was a movie discussion after the screening with the director explaining on the process, the challenge and the hope for the movie. Ilun, as the director often called, explained that the movie featured seven communities and seven people due to the movie duration. So it was all about practicality, not lucky number.
She ties in the seven stories by moving from one island community (Bali) to a tribe (West Kalimantan) to a village (Aceh) to a hamlet (East Nusa Tenggara) to a community (Papua) to a family (Yogyakarta) and to a young couple (Jakarta). Apart from the environment issue, she also features religion as one of the main themes, to show that all religions teach humans to take care of the environment, not destroy it.
It is an interesting movie to watch. Go and watch this if you have the opportunity.
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