Mira's films brim with idealism

Mira's films brim with idealism

T. Sima Gunawan, tabita@cbn.net.id, Contributor, Jakarta

Something unusual can be seen at cineplex movie theaters in
the city these days: the screening of three different Indonesian
movies at the same time. This is quite amazing, as the national
film industry started to grow again just a few years ago after a
decade-long debacle.

Eiffel... I'm in Love, a romantic teen comedy, was premiered
in mid-November, followed by Biarkan Bintang Menari (Let the
Stars Dance), a musical teen drama, and Arisan!, an adult
drama/comedy, this month.

"It's now the most interesting time in the Indonesian film
industry. The audience can take part by exploring and following
the development, which passes through the trial and error
process, and give feedback," said film producer Mira Lesmana.

Thanks to Mira. The 39-year-old Mira is an important figure in
the revival of the Indonesian film industry, who brightened the
gloom with Petualangan Sherina (Sherina's Adventure) in 2000. It
was followed by the release of some other movies including Ada
Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's up with Cinta) and Eliana Eliana.

Like Sherina, Cinta was big success and has been made into a
television series while the low-budget Eliana was internationally
acclaimed but attracted only a small audience here.

Her recent project is Gie, about student activist Soe Hok Gie,
who died from inhaling poisonous gas when he climbed Mount
Semeru, East Java, on Dec. 16, 1969, a day before his 27th
birthday.

She said that the type of movie she made determined the type
of idealism that characterized it.

"We are like cooks. Although people may like our semur (stewed
beef), this does not necessarily mean that we should make semur
all the time. If we can cook other food that is good, why not?"
she said.

Mira, the mother of two boys, recalled that before she made
Sherina, many were skeptical. They also said the same thing about
Cinta. But Mira never underestimates the audience and continues
to do her best for film productions. She says she does not want
to judge the audience and believes that their taste develops as
the mind evolves.

Mira does not make movies for commercial purposes, saying that
she only wants to make good movies.

"A good movie should be able to move the emotions of the
audience and make them think further; it should be able to
present new ideas on life," said Mira.

Gie, she said, was not about politics, but about a bright,
rebellious young man who struggled for injustice. It was inspired
by his book, Catatan Harian Seorang Demonstran (Journal of a
Demonstrator), which she read in 1984. The script is ready and
shooting is to start in February or March. It is expected to hit
the market late in 2004 or even early in 2005.

"Making a good film takes time as preparations need to be
thorough," said Mira. "And however professional the actors are,
they should also prepare well by practicing with the others."

Making a television film also gave her the same satisfaction
as working on a wide-screen film. However, she has not produced
many TV films because she could not follow the speed of the TV
film industry, which always wants things to be done quickly,
possibly sacrificing quality.

The wife of popular actor Mathias Muchus, Mira has enjoyed
watching movies since she was a child.

Her fond of movies grew when she lived in Australia for five
years to join her brother Indra Lesmana, a young talented
musician. Upon returning to the country, Mira studied film at the
Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ), as suggested by her late father,
respected jazz musician Jack Lesmana.

Unfortunately, when she finished her studies in 1988, the film
industry was in the doldrums, while the TV industry had yet to
flourish. Therefore, she worked in an advertising company for
more than four years. She later joined Katena production house
for another few years before she decided to establish her own
company in 1995.

"I started with nothing but ideas," said Mira, who has a wish
that one day she will write her ideas in a book on film
development in the country.

One of her former employers at the production house helped by
renting her a building and providing her with a second-hand
telephone and fax machine. Her friend, actor Didi Petet, sent
some old furniture. A secretary and an accountant were hired for
her new office.

Mira tried to sell her ideas to make television films, but no
one was interested. Somehow, she got an offer to make Anak Seribu
Pulau (Children of the Thousand Islands), a TV documentary series
coproduced by Garin Nugroho. It was screened in 1996 and received
an encouraging response from viewers.

During the making of the documentary, Mira met many people who
shared the same dream to revitalize the film industry. Among them
were young director Riri Reza, who later became her partner in
Miles Films and Production Company, and Nan T. Achnas. Along with
Rizal Mantovani, they joined forces to direct four separate
cinematic vignettes in Kuldesak (Cul-de-sac) in 1997.

Kuldesak, which was made on a low budget of Rp 600 million
(about US$71,400), attracted 140,000 people, which was far beyond
Mira's expectations.

"We raised all the money to produce the film from donors,
while those involved in the film making were not paid. Therefore
we spent all of the revenue on helping young people interested in
making films," she said.

The flourishing industry and the consequent arrival of a new
batch of young filmmakers do not worry Mira in the slightest.
She's happy about that. Her concerns are for a brighter future
for the Indonesian film industry.