Mount Gai is like a second womb for Veronika Nona. For decades, she dwelled in the embrace of nature, taking care of the gardens and livestock that have been passed down through generations by her ancestors. Her relationship with nature in the Gunung Gai area has made Veronika Nona fluent in interpreting the codes of the universe. If she hears crying from the forest, she knows that someone will die soon. However, Veronika Nona realized that she could not stay with Mount Gai until the end of her life. She must return home at a ripe old age. For this reason, Veronika Nona entrusted her role to Nong Titus, her younger brother, who in turn had to leave his sick wife in the village to continue looking after the gardens and cattle at Gunung Gai.
Nong Titus, though only able to see with one eye, perhaps sees the world more clearly. The world inside Mount Gai continues to beg for his help and the world outside continues to wait for his return. Nong Titus will survive until the next last guard comes.
While nursing Maria, Nong Titus convinced his wife, and himself, that he had to go to Gunung Gai because if he didn’t, his garden produce and livestock could be stolen one by one. After taking care of Maria and upon Nong Titus’ return to Gunung Gai, one of his goats was missing. “Sie!” is how Nong Titus called his lost goats in Nelle, Maumere.
The dripping sound effect that flows through the documentary directed by Yosef Levi seems to symbolize the life on Mount Gai that must continue to roll and maintain its purity so that it can continue to survive in modesty. Through camera shots that consistently show the intimacy between Veronika Nona and Nong Titus with all the life on Mount Gai, nature is not merely presented as a flat and silent landscape, but as an entity that beats and has its will. Mount Gai seems to want to continue to protect and be protected by its guardian, which hopefully does not stop at Nong Titus alone.
In 30 minutes of its duration, SIE… (2024) invests in intense observation of daily experiences to present the relationship between humans, humans with nature, and humans with the Creator. Nothing is singled out or eliminated. Each is presented as significant as it is. They complement each other while providing a spacious and rich interpretation space for the listeners. Follow the footsteps of Veronika Nona and Nong Titus in the north of Mount Gai through SIE… (2024) that will be premiered in Lanskap FFD 2024. (Hesty N. Tyas) (Ed. Vanis/Trans. Naufal Shabri)
Film Details
SIE…
Yosef Levi | 30 Min | 2024 | East Nusa Tenggara
Official Selection for Lanskap
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024
Screening Schedule
Nov. 7 | 19:00 WIB | Militaire Societeit, TBY
Nov. 9 | 13:00 WIB | Ruang Seminar, TBY
