Jakarta International Festival marries East and West
By Yenni Kwok
JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of Jakarta International Festival 1997 (Jakfest '97) are clearly intent on dismantling Rudyard Kipling's pessimism that the twain never meets between East and West.
Its theme, "East Meets West," says it all, as the Eighth Jakarta International Festival invites everybody to enjoy doses of local and foreign cultures, all for free. Movies, dances, music and handicrafts from 17 countries fill the week-long calendar through June 29.
Participating countries are Australia, Austria, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Mexico, the Philippines, Peru, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia.
"We have a mission to introduce their cultures to the public, and to show the world that we too can appreciate their cultures," said Ita Munaf, the vice chairperson of Jakarta International Festival, more popularly known as Jakfest.
Jakfest is held annually to celebrate the city's anniversary, which falls on June 22. The festival is a collaborative effort by the Jakarta provincial government, Jakarta Promotion Board and Garuda Indonesia.
The cultural activities are held at different venues around the city: movies will be in Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, art exhibitions in Jakarta Convention Center, cultural performances in Erasmus Huis, Pasar Seni Ancol and several shopping centers.
Although the welcome party will not be until this Thursday, Jakfest kicked off last Monday with movie screenings at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta.
Indonesia showed two movies, Nya' Abbas Akup's Cintaku di Rumah Susun (My Love in the Housing Project) and Garin Nugroho's award-winning Surat Untuk Bidadari (Letter to an Angel).
Surat Untuk Bidadari, scheduled to be screened at 8 p.m. today, is the tale of Lewa, a boy living on the island of Sumba. His rough surroundings have taken the lives of those he loves: his mother, father, uncle and pet horse. Lewa is often scolded for his free will and ideas. He then writes a letter to an angel, asking why he is always faulted even when he does something right.
Other films scheduled today are Poland's, The Scream and South Korea's, Eternal Empire. The Scream is a grim story of a young woman who has to work in a luxurious nursing home after her release from prison. Marianne cares for Nestor, a senile old man. The story is set in 1981, during the country's period of martial law in which people were gripped by paranoia. Nestor is a target of suspicion when two labor unionists come for an investigation.
Eternal Empire tells of political intrigues in 17th century Chosun Korea. The Royal Party insists the power should be centralized in the monarch, while the Old Party believes it belongs to a majority of ministers. When the king's trusted scholar is killed, apparently by the Old Party because of his knowledge about a mysterious royal book, the king tries to get rid of the Old Party members. The enigma centers around what is in the book, why the murder took place and who was involved.
Films screened earlier during the festival included the Philippines' Mulanay -In the Heart of Paradise, Vietnam's An Oath, China's Yang Yuhuan - the Imperial Concubine and Japan's The Sting of Death.
Music
Musical performances range from folk songs to classical music. Vietnam's 20-member Thai Binh Art Troupe will perform the "folk- songs of North Delta", as well as a series of dances.
The Netherlands will present jazz and a classical music performances at their cultural center, Erasmus Huis. The Plexus Sextet band of Rotterdam will perform their "hardbop" jazz tonight.
If you missed cellist Rene Berman and pianist Kees Wieringa yesterday, there are other classical music moments to be enjoyed. Indonesian-Slovenian pianist Tomaz Tobing will perform Franz Schubert's Impromptu pieces this Friday and Saturday at Erasmus Huis.
Folk dances still reign in this festival. Seoul Municipal Dance Company will perform several dances, such as Wedding Day, Hallyang Dance, Fan Dance, Shaman Dance and Jindo Drum Dance. In Jindo Drum Dance, two drums are used in the exciting and energetic dance in reflecting the high spirits of the Jindo people.
Multi-ethnic Singapore is represented by Silambam, the ancient Indian martial art rooted in Tamil folk-art culture. It is much older than Malay silat and even Chinese kung fu. In this festival, Silambam fighters show their skills in dexterously using long sticks, spring blades, ram horns and fire balls.
Nineteen artists from Australia, Peru, the Philippines, Malaysia and Jakarta will exhibit their handicrafts at Jakarta Convention Center from June 27 to 29.
On Sunday morning, participants of Jakfest '97 will also parade through Jl. M.H. Thamrin, from the National Monument (Monas) to the roundabout in front of Hotel Indonesia. Munaf estimates around 500 participants, including 350 from Indonesia, will take part in this cultural procession.
Except the welcome and farewell parties, all events are open to the public for free. "It is part of the Jakarta provincial government's social activities so that we all can enjoy the variety of local and international culture," said Ita.
Events have always been free since 1990. Throughout the years, foreign participants have increased, from four countries in 1990. The organizers plan to keep the free admission policy for the first 10 or 15 years. "Right now, we are more focused on creating an image of a good, well-organized festival," Ita added.