Documentary shows Balinese perspective

Documentary shows Balinese perspective

Andrew Charles, Contributor, Denpasar

Since the early 1970s, and up until the bombing in October last
year, Bali was a major international tourist destination, with
over a million tourists arriving each month -- generating a
quarter of the country's total foreign exchange earnings.

Today, Bali appears almost deserted -- unemployment has risen,
and despite a small increase in business, the Balinese remain
mortified and ashamed that such a horrible act of senseless
brutality could have occurred on their sacred island.

John Darling, the well known Australian filmmaker and former
university lecturer of film studies, is currently producing and
directing -- in partnership with Padi Films -- an one hour
television documentary to show the Balinese point of view of the
bombings and aftermath.

With numerous previously unpublicized stories, this production
will easily rank with Darling's earlier masterpieces such as
Lempad of Bali, theBali Triptych documentary series,
Bali Hash and Below the Wind. Despite having been ill for some
time, he felt strongly motivated to produce this documentary on a
subject many people are avoiding.

In the film, a High Priest explains that Bali is protected by
a sacred invisible fence, of which the eleven major temples are
the posts. He believes that lack of attention to rituals and
spiritual life has allowed foreign evil to enter. This is
illustrated by the massive tourist developments, which lie close
to the temple's thresholds, and a general preoccupation with
material rewards over spiritual good.

In the context of personal stories, the themes of grieving and
healing are addressed, in contrast with the depiction of
unfolding events, arrests, trials and rituals. By focusing on
characters who are still learning to cope with their shattered
lives, the film demonstrates how Hindus, Muslims and Christians,
are finding new strength.

Most Australian media stories about the bombings have
concentrated on Australian survivors and relatives of Australians
who died. This documentary gives an account from a different
perspective. Woven throughout The Healing of Bali is the visible
cooperation, between and within, the Australian and Indonesian
cultures. Although they appear to be disparate, the cultures
share a wealth of history. Old footage of Kuta will illustrate
that the link between Australia and Indonesia has been growing
for over 50 years, and is still strong.

Bali is a special place for many Australians, who are frequent
visitors to the island. John Darling, now aged 57, has lived in
Bali for more years of his life than anywhere else in the world.
His long relationship with the Balinese people gives the
documentary depth and warmth, which is lacking in much of the
recent footage televised. He has known many of his subjects since
1969, and his deep understanding of the Balinese culture is an
insight much needed, at a time when tolerance has been stretched
to its limit.

Included in the documentary is the story of the Javanese
mother of two boys. She was walking past Paddy's cafe to buy rice
for her husband when the bombs exploded. Six days later, she was
evacuated to Royal Perth Hospital with 70 percent burns to her
body. Her fight for recovery is recorded, and the struggle of
grieving widows who lost the support of their taxi-driver
husbands. Audiences will also view the lives of the surviving
staff of Paddy's and the Sari Club.

Haji Agus Bambang, a car parking attendant in Kuta, and a
celebrated hero, was the first rescuer to enter the flames. In
his interview, he recalls, sometimes close to tears but also with
humor, the horrors of the suffering he saw -- people on fire and
with ghastly injuries. This devout triple-haj-pilgrim cannot
understand what led his fellow Muslims to commit such inhumane
actions. He now leads a campaign to stop radical Muslims from
settling in Bali.

A very different character, Inspector General Made Pastika,
the enigmatic Balinese police officer who took charge of the
bombing investigation, is filmed at the Hindu temple at police
headquarters. As the mosque next door broadcasts the call to
prayer (and drowns out his words), he quickly cites this as an
example of the open-mindedness towards Islam practiced by the
majority of Balinese Hindus; a lesson to the world perhaps?

Interviews with Muslims in Australia and Bali, as well as
Java, emphasize that the perpetrators of the atrocities were not
representative of all Muslims.

There is also evidence of the amazing developments in the
treatment of burns by Doctor Fiona Wood at Royal Perth Hospital.
Jenni Ballantyne, the inventor of the "Second Skin," worn by all
the recovering burns patients is filmed at work in Australia and
Bali, fitting patients with elasticized suits.

The documentary will be screened on Australian television in
October, the date and channel are yet to be announced. It will be
available for purchase in DVD format soon afterward. It is
certain to both shock and inspire audiences.