Mira Lesmana and her obsession
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
I did not know Mira Lesmana personally, just that she was a movie director and producer. I thought she came from an affluent family and had entered the film industry as a side interest.
It turned out that I was wrong. It is her strong devotion to film -- not money -- that has made Mira an important person in the film industry.
Dozens of trophies in her South Jakarta office show the kind of person Mira is. By putting the trophies in her office rather than her home, Mira apparently wants to emphasize that her success is not her own, but her team's.
Amid her tight schedule -- promoting her newest film -- she greeted me at her office, Miles Films, in Cipete, South Jakarta.
In her newest film, Gie, Mira portrays the life of Soe Hok Gie, a student activist and adventurer who lived in the 1960s. Mira acknowledges that Soe Hok Gie had inspired her in her own life.
The film Gie is based on Catatan Seorang Demonstran (Diary of a Demonstrator). Hok Gie started keeping a journal when he was 14 years old and kept one up until his death, one day before his 27th birthday, on Mount Semeru in East Java.
"I read that book many years ago. It is one of the most important books I have ever read. To me, the book is very inspiring," Mira said.
Hok Gie's diary has become favorite reading material for many student activists, who consider it a textbook for young people who want to become social or political activists.
Mira recalled that she read the book in 1984, shortly before she enrolled at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
The book consists of Hok Gie's notes and comments on various issues, including friendship, politics, nature, literature and social issues.
"I was embarrassed after reading that book. I learned that there was an Indonesian guy in the 1960s who was critical, brave and very knowledgeable. I didn't know how many years I would need to catch up with his knowledge. Where had I been so far?" she said.
Not only did Mira admire Hok Gie, the book also encouraged her to move forward. It also made her think about how Hok Gie gave meaning to his life.
Mira is busy preparing the promotions for Gie while her partner, director Riri Riza, checks the color grading to ensure that the public will get a good quality film.
The duo have delayed the film's release from June 30 to July 14. It is planned that Gie will be released in nine cities simultaneously.
According to Mira there was no special reason why she chose July 14 as the date of release. Her main concern was whether students -- high school and university -- would have time to watch the movie.
Given the fact that students are the target audience, Mira arranged the release for the school holidays.
It was in February, 2002, that she decided to bring Hok Gie's diary to the screen. Before going any further, she contacted Hok Gie's older brother, sociologist Arief Budiman (Soe Hok Djien), by email, telling him of her intention.
To her surprise, Arief responded immediately and supported her plan.
She had not planned to rush with the movie, but Riri Riza convinced her that they could move faster on the film.
The scenes were shot in different cities and locations, including Semarang in Central Java, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Mount Gede and Mount Pangrango in West Java, Mount Merapi in Central Java, and on the slopes of Mount Salak in West Java.
Mira has had some notable achievements in film. Together with her colleagues, Mira tried to jump-start the stalled film industry with Kuldesak, which was produced in 1998. The film was critically acclaimed. Two years later, she produced Petualangan Sherina (Sherina's Adventure), followed by Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's up with Cinta?) and Eliana, Eliana, both in 2002. In 2003, Mira produced Rumah Ketujuh (The Seventh House).
Petualangan Sherina and Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? proved to be commercial successes and were shown at the 21 theater chain alongside Hollywood films -- the first Indonesian films to do so since the early 1990s. The success of the films marked the resurrection of the Indonesian film industry.
Eliana, Eliana won some awards, including Best Young Cinema at the Singapore International Film Festival in 2002, and Best Actress for Jajang C Noer and Rachel Maryam at the Deauville International Film Festival in 2003.
Mira's films have taken part in various festivals in Korea, Egypt, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, England, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the United States.
Mira emphasizes that she always tries to convey something to the audience through her movies. This means she focuses on something besides profit when making a film.
"It's simple. We have a concern in mind and we want to convey something. For me, these two things are important. If you want to make a movie, the orientation must start from here, ourselves. Do you have something to convey? If not, then don't make movie. It will only be a waste of time," she said.
She said that when she made the children's movie Petualangan Sherina and the teenager movie Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? she had something to say.
Despite all her achievements, Mira remains a down-to-earth figure. She says she does not pretend to be an idealistic person. She says she is just someone who knows the film industry. "If we make a film, we have to assume it will be profitable, otherwise it will halt our creativity. Once we go bankrupt we will have to stop."
Realizing that money matters in film production and in her life, Mira said the films she makes should produce a profit, or at least should not lose money.
She understands that she is a person who makes her living from the film industry.
Other people who do not fully devote their lives to the film industry can easily switch jobs. If they fail in film they can move to another job, be it in television or opening a store or restaurant.
"How about us? Our life is here in the film industry. That is why we have to calculate the production costs and the profit. We must ensure that we have the money to support ourselves in the future."
Again and again during the interview, she said the figure of Hok Gie had influenced much of her life.
Mira said she was in a transitional period now, much as Hok Gie was in the 1960s. She said life was as simple as choosing between two alternatives: taking a role in life or simply enjoying everything.
"I choose taking a role in life and taking the challenge as well," she said.
Mira was born Aug. 8, 1964, to jazz musician Jack Lesmana and Nien Lesmana. Her younger brother, Indra Lesmana, is a well-known musician.
She has two stepbrothers and one stepsister from her mother Nien.
Instead of playing music like her father and brother, Mira showed an early interest in film. That is why she enrolled at the IKJ in 1985, where she met actor Mathias Muchus whom she later married.
The couple and their two children, Galih Galinggis and Kafka Keandre, live in Taman Bintaro Jaya, Jakarta.
Amid her various activities as director, producer and a lecturer at IKJ, Mira always makes time for her family, especially on the weekend.
Mira learned lessons of character from Hok Gie, and from her parents she learned how to build and manage her relationship with her children and husband.
"I learned from my father about trust, openness and freedom. First, my parents gave signals that they trusted me, then they built an openness with their children through dialog, and then they gave us freedom," Mira said.
She said that growing up, she always tried to respect her parents and avoid doing anything to ruin their trust.
As a parent, Mira said she learned every day by talking with her children.
"I tell my children that the most important thing is what is in our hearts, not our appearance," she said.
Breaking into the film industry is not an easy as people might imagine. It requires sacrifice, and Mira is no exception.
However, Mira says she is fortunate because her children and her husband understand her job. She says her children know their mother's job is different and does not have a regular schedule.
Mira always returns home as soon as she finishes her work at the end of the day. Basically, she is a family woman.
"I like to be at home. After finishing work, I go home, read a book, play with the children, watch movies, or just relax. Usually, I spend Saturday and Sunday with my family.
"There are times when I have to be out of town, for a festival, to shoot a film or on a promotional tour," she said.
Speaking about the current condition of the country, Mira said culture should play a bigger role in the nation-building process, which must also involve younger people.
She said the country should make character-building a priority. She added that culture should be taken more seriously because it can affect politics, the economy and education.
Mira said she realized younger people were caught up in a culture of consumption and were reluctant to read.
Mira sees this as a challenge.
Young people are born curious and we should play a role ion fulfilling this curiosity. Here, Mira and her associates use movies to communicate with them.
At a time when some people from the film industry have joined political parties, Mira chooses to remain neutral.
"I have no interest in getting involved in politics, but I have to understand politics. I think everyone must understand politics because we are all affected by politics. This is what Gie is all about."
"To understand politics, you don't have to become a politician. But you must know politics because it affects us all. In schools, there are politics. Politics are everywhere, so be aware of politics. It is not something to fear. Again, Hok Gie saw this. He prevents himself from becoming trapped in a group, or from becoming partisan, because it is dangerous. We need someone there, but we also need others to be outside to observe. We must understand politics. If we have awareness, we will not become trapped in it."
Despite all her work and commitments, Mira still looks energetic and enthusiastic. She says her passion for film gives her energy.
With all her thoughts and accomplishments, Mira serves as a kind of oasis for young people on their long journey to create a better nation.