Television series aims to educate about AIDS

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)