Television series aims to educate about AIDS
JAKARTA (JP): Prominent Indonesian drama group Teater Koma, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Ford Foundation and Gapura Production, will screen a television miniseries about a woman infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), in recognition of international AIDS day which falls on Dec.1.
The miniseries Suryakanta Kala, or Onah and her dreams, to be screened over three days by state-owned TVRI tonight and on Dec. 6 and 13, was written and directed by the head of Teater Koma, N. Riantiarno.
"Through this program I would like to invite viewers to answer this question: who is our real enemy? Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) itself, or the people infected with the disease?" Riantiarno said.
He said there are misconceptions about the disease which is the result of misinformation. Therefore clear and accurate information should be made available, and television is just one avenue available.
A group of AIDS experts was founded by the Ministry of Health to assist Riantiarno in conveying correct AIDS information in his films.
Suryakanta Kala is about a pregnant housewife, Onah (interpreted by Shanty Leksono), who is HIV positive. Because Onah has only ever had one partner, her husband Rusdja (played by Joshua DP), it is believed it was he who infected her.
In the village where Onah lives, the lack of knowledge about both HIV and AIDS has enabled rumors spread by Wardikun (played by Subarkah Hadi Sardjana) to be believed.
Wardikun has been vindictive towards Onah ever since she refused his advances and proposal of marriage and wed another man. He concocts stories about being able to contract the virus by merely shaking hands with an infected person, drinking from the same glass, sitting on a chair previously occupied by a patient and all sorts of fallacies.
The villagers know very little about AIDS and are susceptible to such rumors. People start avoiding Onah all the more until eventually she is turned into the village pariah.
At one point Wardikun dons a mask and encourages other villagers to do the same when they try to banish Onah from the village. Later he throws away his mask when he realizes he has committed a grave mistake.
A scene where the village chief interrogates Onah is ominously done with a barrier between the two -- Onah is on one side of a white screen and the village chief is on the other, as though to separate himself from her and her illness.
Just at the point where Onah is almost ostracized altogether because, out of ignorance, the villagers believe coming into contact with her could infect them, Doctor Halimah (interpreted by Ratna Riantiarno), the village's physician, comes and gives an in depth talk on AIDS and what precautions to take against it.
Riantiarno said the story was made to make people aware that AIDS does not only infect prostitutes and homosexuals but can contaminate anyone: people good and bad alike, from any walk of life and from any race or creed.
"That Onah is a faithful wife who contracted HIV shows the importance of prevention rather than hoping for a miraculous cure," commented Riantiarno.
Combining educational and traditional social values with local characteristics in a typically Indonesian rural setting may be the serial's strong points. The serial will also feature in a film festival in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on Jan.4 next year, which focuses on AIDS in Asia.
Teater Koma, established 18 years ago, is noted for comedy and satirical plays. It has interpreted international plays such as Ubu the King of Frenchman Alfred Jarry, Chinese legend Sampek Engtay. It is also well known for its own productions, like Tenung (Bewitched), Rampok (Robbery) and Opera Kecoak (Cockroach opera).(als)