'I am so Indonesian; I have to eat rice and chili'

'I am so Indonesian; I have to eat rice and chili'

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Mira Lesmana, 37, is the mother of two children, but for many
she is also one of the young people who has been able to breathe
life back into the local film industry.

She was one of the directors of Kuldesak (1999) and the wildly
successful Petualangan Sherina (2001) .

For her achievements and dedication to the industry, the wife
of actor Mathias Muchus received the Matra Award 2000 and was
named one of outstanding women of the year.

"I can't work alone and all the success I have achieved is
because everybody in our team works real hard," she said
modestly.

The daughter of noted jazz musician, the late Jack Lesmana
also produced the teen flick Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's Up
With Love?), which opened in theaters in mid February and is
expected to be another hit.

As she sits answering questions in her quiet office in Cipete,
South Jakarta, Mira is refreshingly modest in appearance amid the
artificial beauty of so many in the entertainment world.

Question: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Ansswer: Perfect happiness is to be able to do what you want to do, to
have friends whom you can work with and, of course, to have a
family that support you. That's it. What else? Love, love, love
(laughs). That's enough.

Q: If you had the choice, what would you be doing right now?

A: Nothing else but this. Even if I had the chance to be born
again, I think I would still do the same thing that I do now,
only I would do it even better. If there really were choices, I
wish I could have more time, I'd want to translate books on film
because the books available now are out-dated and some are still
in English, while the interest in films is growing.

Q: Which trait do you most like about yourself?

A: (Pause) Uh, that's a hard question. Difficult to answer.
Perhaps, I like myself for not being very complicated, never
saying, "Oh, no, I have to put my make-up on, and dress
properly."

Q: Which living persons do you admire?

A: Oh, God ... living persons. All are dead.

Well, I guess Sting -- I've always admired him -- his talent,
sensitivity and what he does for his community. Thank God, he is
still living, and of course Wim Wenders, that's why I watch his
films and read his books. He is making amazing films and also
still living!

Q: What is the cost of your success and popularity

A: Of course, there are areas where I have to pay -- in certain
periods I feel that I lack time to be with my kids.

But, I can manage as telephone contact with my kids is a must.
I am trying not to lose contact. It is also important to have
breakfast together and I go home before the children's bedtime so
I can still meet them.

Q: Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual?

A: Neither (laughs loudly)

Q: But do you believe in God?

A: Oh, yes, very much.

Q: You seem to be getting busier and busier lately. Do you still
have time to read?

A: I have to spare time for that. Actually I have three books to
finish -- Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood, Wim Wenders' Journal
-- Wenders' journal when working with Italian film director
Michelangelo Antonioni -- and Ayu Utami's Larung. Every day,
besides newspapers, magazines and the Internet -- I have to
browse at least for just 10 minutes daily. I push myself to read,
even if I only get through a page or two.

Q: Time for movies?

A: I'd get mentally ill if I didn't watch movies. Usually I go to
the movie theater twice a week. I just watched a French film
Taxi. Oooh, I haven't seen The Lord of the Rings.

Q: What are you favorite movies?

A: I really love George Lucas' Star Wars -- especially the first
sequel and The Empire Strikes Back. Hmmm ... and also the sequel
of Indiana Jones.

Of my collection, when I really am in a bad mood, my choice is
always either Star Wars or Indiana Jones. But I have also watched
The Million Dollar Hotel a couple of times.

Q: What about music?

A: Now I am enjoying Travis, Craig David and Cold Play. I have a
lot of favorite music collections but when I get bored with
certain musicians, I usually return to U2 and Sting ...

Q: What makes you angry?

A: I get irritated when people don't appreciate my efforts. I am
angry when I need to do something so badly but have no
inspiration and there is all just stuff in my head.

Q: And cry?

A: I cry after watching a good film or listening to a good song.
Yes, I cry easily but also laugh easily.

Q: Where would you want to live?

A: I would like to have a nice house in a really, really green
area. I always dream of having a house atop a hill, green,
tranquil and serene ... but no snakes, please!

Q: Do you ever worry about your appearance?

A: Well, I'd be lying if I said I don't worry at all about my
appearance, but I am not fussy about it. To meet certain people,
I try to look my best and that's because I respect them. If I
have to meet people that I have to show respect to and at a
certain function, then I will not go overboard and become panicky
about my appearance.

Q: Any plans to change your appearance?

A: I straightened my hair recently. I was born with curly hair
and I did it for practical reasons.

Q: What makes your life worth living?

A: I know what I want and I am achieving it, even if we do go
through hard times, it's still worthwhile because I know I am
reaching my dream and not somebody else's dream.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Bakso (meatball soup). My palate is so Indonesian that I can't
live without rice and sambal (chili sauce). I even bring my own
cabai (chili) when I am traveling. When I was still in Australia,
I grew my own chilis.

Q: What is the quality you like most in a man?

A: Tenderness, caring, being respectful to others, having a sense
of humor.

Q: Is there anything you regret about your life?

A: No. I take failure and mistakes in the past as important
lessons and regard them as part of my life process.

Q: How would you like to be remembered?

A: As someone who is meaningful and also someone who has
contributed something.

Q: Which talent would you most like to have?

A: I always really wanted to be able to play music ... I wish I
could play the piano and guitar (laughs). I wish I could sing,
too, I was so jealous of my brother (musician Indra Lesmana) when
I was a kid. But, thank God, I am blessed with ears to enjoy
music.

Q: If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what
do you think it would be?

A: The same thing, I guess ... but with one addition that I am
able to sing and play music.