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.