Mentawai - Souls of the Forest

The last indigenous people of the archipelagos of Sumatra: A culture on the verge of extinction - with the latest geopolitical developments, the destruction of their habitat reaches the point of no return. Smashing the hopes of thirty years of democratization in Indonesia, Jakarta, in relapse to authoritarian rule, enforces deforestation in Mentawai. In collaboration with investigative journalist Febrianti and indigenous foundations, our film portrays indigenous culture, history, and resistance to the most recent developments in geopolitical of Indonesia's growing environmental degradation. Connect with all your heart and senses: see, feel, touch, and smell life in the jungle. The cinematic and compassionate camera conveys an intimate and sensual experience of the indigenous life on Mentawai with its beauty and vulnerability. Three shamans are the main characters in the film, hunter-gatherers in a culture predating even traditions of weaving or pottery, archaic traditions with their own complexity. The film portrays the daily life of the indigenous tribe, their spiritual cosmos, and their commitment to preserving their own culture and natural habitat. Logging companies threaten the fragile ecosystem of the islands. Rare historical footage and archive materials tell the story of decades of oppression of the indigenous culture – but also of the resilience of our main characters and the last tribes living in the jungle. The main character, Father Laulau, had been a leader in this struggle for decades, meeting the governor of Sumatra at a key point in history. The latter part of the film explores the geopolitical context. It shows a new generation joining our main characters in the fight to preserve both their environment and culture – as part of a larger movement in Indonesia. The project is supported by renowned researchers, activists, and the Indigenous Foundation. The film is one of a planned series of films celebrating the diversity and richness of Indonesian indigenous culture.

I'm grateful to be supported by the Indigenous community and producer Ilona Grundmann, who also worked with Werner Herzog. As a working-class kid, it took me a long time to get my hands on a decent camera to follow my passion. After traveling Asia for years as an author, photographer, and filmmaker, this is my first doc feature after a series of short films.