Kanis Dursin and Alia, Jakarta – With more than 20 plays under her belt, you would think senior director Ratna Sarumpaet would have no problem finding investors for her film, particularly if the proposed production was a big screen adaptation of her play that won rave reviews.
That does not seem to be the case however for the founder of Satu Merah Panggung (One Red Stage) theater group. For the past few months, the actress has been looking in vain for investors willing to foot the bill for her first ever motion picture.
"We have cast our nets everywhere and are still waiting for responses from possible investors," Ratna told The Jakarta Post early this month.
She did not give away who she had approached for the production of Pelacur dan Sang Presiden (A Prostitute and The President), a silver screen adaptation of her play Jamilah dan Sang Presiden (Jamilah and The President).
Pelacur dan Sang Presiden, which Ratna plans to release in conjunction with Human Rights Day on December 10, delves into the problem of human trafficking – a burning issue in a country of 220 million people.
The director-cum-activist said some 200,000 children are being trafficked and sold across the archipelago every year due to extreme poverty and a lack of education.
She said "people of all ages have to understand the gravity of the problem". "Such practice (human trafficking) is found in all regions and that is the reason why I don't single out any place in the film," said Ratna.
In preparation for the film, the actress undertook field research and interviewed workers and victims of the sex trade in many regions and cities including Batam, Solo, Surabaya, Kalimantan and Indramayu.
Her strong desire to make the public more aware of the problem – including its root cause – has prompted her to take the issue to the big screen.
"This is a campaign and as a campaign, I will do anything I can to promote this film so that all people watch this film and in turn make a profit for investors," she said. "I feel it's very important that this film gets screened widely. I hope it will open the minds of Indonesians to some of the real issues that are troubling our community today."
As noble and idealistic as her desire may sound, the film has until now failed to win the heart of Indonesian investors. So far only one company – and ironically a foreign company – has shown interest in the production.
"They (prospective investors) always say that this (project) is great and important, but they become apprehensive when we talk about financing," she said, adding that one investor even told her to make a film for teenagers instead. "I told him that this film is for people of all ages, including teenagers," she said.
Ratna said she was well aware the film industry has been obsessed with themes of horror, mysticism and teenage romance. However, she believed it was time for the mature cinema-going public to be presented with weightier offerings.
"If we look at Indonesia's film industry, we can never predict what kind of films would make money. There are so many horror, mysticism and teenage romance movies that failed to make profit," she said.
"Likewise, there is no guarantee Pelacur dan Sang Presiden will succeed, but that is how the film industry works... there will always bee a chance," she said.
Ideally, Ratna said, the country's film industry should provide education and entertainment. She said it was sad the industry focused so much on entertainment.
"Is it really true that we get entertained when we see ghosts everyday?" she said. "Those (ghost) programs are not educating (anyone)," said Ratna, who turned 59 last July 16.
Ratna is no stranger to stage or screen. She started her career in 1991 as director of the television show Rumah Untuk Mama (House for Mother) on state-owned TVRI.
She is a 16 year veteran of the theater and her work has been internationally honored. In 1998 she was awarded the Female Human Rights Special Award from the Asia Foundation for Human Rights in Tokyo.
Ratna said she had become despondent about the way the sex industry operated in Indonesia. She claimed the root of the problem was poverty and stupidity. These two factors affect both the prostitute and her client. This was proven, she said, by surveys and interviews she undertook in five major cities across Indonesia.
The other issue of serious concern raised by Ratna, and that Indonesia seems unable to fix, is trade in child trafficking. For the film-maker this is a moral issue and the solution should be the responsibility of all citizens.
"For me the sex industry is a tragedy; I find it particularly painful because Indonesia is a religious nation," she said.
"Everything in this country is connected with religion. You can't even spit without someone coming out to demonstrate. Not one child born in Indonesia should ever have to work in prostitution.
"For me, there's an obligation on mothers, and all who work in pesantren (Islamic schools, usually with boarders), to appreciate the issues.
"Because faith and religion are so important, children need to be aware from an early age. It could be said that this film is a campaign to raise awareness.
"And not just parents, but teachers and caregivers. There's also a message here for the authorities.
"The government knows that every year around 20,000 children under one year are traded in this republic. In some regions children up to five years of age are sold and that's not considered unusual.
"Our laws are weak. So this film is a campaign to raise awareness of the sex industry."
The film would be strengthened by some big names in local cinema, including Atiqah Hasiholan (Jamila), Christine Hakim (Ria, Sipir), Tio Pakusadewo (Soleh), Marcelino Lefrandt (Arthur) and Jajang C Noer (Mrs Wardiman) and Luna Maya (journalist).
It's interesting this is the first time Christine Hakim has played the role of an antagonist.
"But the antagonist in my film doesn't terrify like a ghost," Ratna said. "She always demands that humanity must be recognized."
"When I make a film, an antagonist isn't very wicked or bad or evil. There is still a human side to their character."