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.