The people of Atoin Meto have always relied on wine palm trees for their livelihood. It holds the power to give life and take it right back.
Sailum: Song of The Rustling Leaves (Felix K. Nesi, Moses Parlindungan Ompusunggu; 2023) opens up as an homage to the people of Atoin Meto in Timor Island, Indonesia. The directors stated that this documentary is their sincere effort in showing how the people of Atoin Meto harmoniously bond through life with nature. Aside from the beauty of its visuals, the force that lies in the movie is also tied to the salient characteristic that was provided by the personal touch of its directors. The story fuses the ebbs and flows of the life of Atoin Meto people with their sacred bond with nature, specifically, with the wine palm trees.
The majority of the people of Atoin Meto heavily relied their fates on those trees. On the occasion of their cultural traditions and ceremonies, they would also drink “sopi”, a beverage produced from the wine palm trees. That is part of the reason why climbing those trees to pick its fruits has been a part of their daily routine. Alas, misfortune falls on some of them who fell and meet their demise under the same trees that bring them fortune. The people of Atoin Meto will always believe that those who meet their demise under the wine palm trees, will always be with them every step of the way.
Aside from shining light on the Atoin Meto people’s agrarian culture, Sailum: Song of the Rustling Leaves (2023) also delves into centuries long of religious devotion. The people of Atoin Meto are faithful to serving in church in accordance with the Catholics, despite also worshiping nature and praying to their ancestors. The movie invites its viewers to immerse into the daily lives of the Atoin Meto people and to ponder on every overlooked aspect amidst modernity. In a country once known for its cultural diversity, Sailum: Song of the Rustling Leaves (2023) serves as a tender reminder of the importance of preserving culture.
What differentiates Sailum: Song of the Rustling Leaves (2023) is its ability to create a hole in its viewers hearts and abundantly fill it right back with its genuine and heartfelt storytelling. Aside from being informative, the film also evokes deep and profound emotions, providing an outlook on tradition, nature, and spirituality.
Sailum: Song of the Rustling Leaves (2023) is a celebration of nature wrapped in the form of a call to preserve dying traditions in the hands of modernity. This film is selected in Short Competition Festival Film Dokumenter 2023. (Tirza Kanya) (Vanis/Adinta)
Film Details
Sailum: Song of the Rustling Leaves
Felix K. Nesi, Moses Parlindungan Ompusunggu | 29 Minutes | 2023 | East Nusa Tenggara | Color | 13+
Screening Schedule
12.05 | Bioskop Sonobudoyo | 19.00 WIB
12.09 | Auditorium IFI-LIP | 15.00 WIB
