By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda
Jakarta (13/04)- Collaboration between Wakatobi local government, WWF-Indonesia, and SET Film Workshop produced a film titled “The Mirror Never Lies.” Having completed the shooting process which took place in Wakatobi islands, Southeast Sulawesi in September 2010, The Mirror Never Lies will be screened for public at numbers of cinema in several big cities in Indonesia at the beginning of May 2011.
The family drama directed by a young female director Kamila Andini tells a story of an indigenous girl named Pakis who grows up in Bajo tribe (nomadic, boat-dwelling people, and are often referred to as sea gypsies). She struggles to rediscover her identity while intensively deals with the issues faced by her families and Bajo community, the sea wanderers who rely on the marine resources. They are now on the brink of extinction due to the lack of marine resources as their source of life.
Starred by Atiqah Hasiholan and Reza Rahadian, the movie is packaged through a metaphoric approach as a strategy to raise people’s concern for Indonesian sea with its marine resources as well as to raise public awareness toward marine conservation, particularly the high biodiversity of Wakatobi islands, as the centre of World Coral Triangle.
“It is a communication media which will be used by WWF-Indonesia for to improve public awareness toward the beauty and richness of Indonesian sea as well as introduce them the Bajau tribe, the one and only sea-nomad tribe in Indonesia. You can imagine how their future will be threatened if the sea is badly damaged,” WWF-Indonesia Marketing and Communication Director Devy Suradji said.
Meanwhile the director, Kamila Andini, said that the movie is an expression of unrest, what she, Nadine Chandrawinata (WWF-Indonesia Honorary Supporter who is also the producer), and WWF-Indonesia feel about the condition of Indonesian sea which has also threatened the existence of Bajau people.
According to Wakatobi District Head, Hugua, the local government involvement in “The Mirror Never Lies” production is an effort to strengthen conservation in Wakatobi and also to promote Wakatobi’s marine ecotourism sites and research center.
“Now, Wakatobi has been known as an important marine life research center. The island as the centre of World Coral Triangle has 750 coral species and 942 fish species that need to be conserved. We, particularly Wakatobi government are responsible for its sustainability. Through this movie, I expect there would be more and more concerned parties support our efforts here,” he added.

Further information, visit ""The Mirror Never Lies"" website in www.wwf.or.id/themirrorneverlies