A cinematic look at Torajan culture and ideas around life and death

Cinemagoers will gain insights into life, death and Torajan culture during a special screening of the film A River in the Middle of the Sky in Melbourne this Friday evening.

The film looks at the work of Victor Konda who, along with a crew from Delta Sangalla TV (DSTV), seeks to capture the elaborate funeral ceremonies for which his Indonesian community is widely known.

Konda has been recording the life and transformations of his people for more than two decades, filming both public and personal moments.

A focus of A River in the Middle of the Sky is Victor Konda’s grandmother, her life, death and the preparations for her burial.

The film is described as one that “combines footage from this archive with original images of Victor and his family, interweaving multiple narrative threads to create a portrait of a man whose work preserves the collective memory of his community”.

“His contributions to the documentation of Torajan life point to the innate impulse of the cameraperson; for one’s experiences to outlive our physical bodies and to surpass the fragility of memory,” a statement reads.

Konda has described how he has always been “drawn to moving images”.

“My love for recording video began after my uncle graciously bought me my first camera, a mini DC camcorder,” he said, noting how he taught himself to use the device and began to document that world around him.

The film was directed by Wahyu Al Mardhani (from Palopo on the island of Sulawesi) and Chris C.F (from Melbourne), both working through film company dogmilk.

Wahyu has exhibited his work in both Australia and Indonesia and wants to strengthen links between both countries.

He said the most interesting part of the filmmaking process were the conversations between
Victor, Chris and himself about death and how filmmakers should respectfully use the material.

“We understood it was incredibly sensitive footage, but even if it made members of the audience uncomfortable, it was important for all of us to include it in the film as a reflection of essential Torajan philosophies and approaches to life and death,” he said.

Chris has lived and worked in both countries and is dedicated to independent filmmaking in both Australia and Southeast Asia.

He said that the film was the outcome of several “incredible weeks” he and Victor had worked together back in 2017.

Konda said that recording his grandmother’s life was “a part of my work from the moment I got a camera”.

“I captured everyday moments in our lives all the way through the gradual decline of her memory,” he said.

“While early on I was filming for the fun of it, recording her became more important to me as she approached the end of her life. Making this film was a way of memorialising her as well as giving Torajan traditions and culture a platform to be appreciated.”

Producer Sam Hewison said production of the film was delayed due to earlier COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions but the final product was powerful and thought-provoking.

He said they were keen to foster future cinematic collaborations between Indonesia and Australia via a “sustainable exchange program” called Sipakatuo.

“We’re planning on hosting participating Indonesian filmmakers in Australia and Australian filmmakers in Indonesia, providing platforms for creative exchange and capacity building, including workshops, master classes and access to industry-grade material and equipment,” he said.

The screening will be held at ACMI Federation Square in Melbourne at 7pm this Friday (14 March) and tickets and further information can be found here.

Feature image by dogmilk