Forgotten Bird of Paradise
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (October 2010) |
| Forgotten Bird of Paradise | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Produced by | Dominic Brown |
| Distributed by | Dancing Turtle Media |
Release date | 2009 |
Running time | 27 min. |
| Country | UK |
| Languages | Lani, Indonesian, English |
Forgotten Bird of Paradise is a 2009 documentary film, produced by British filmmaker Dominic Brown, about the independence struggle in West Papua[1]. The film was shot undercover, and chronicles the West Papuan peoples struggle for freedom from Indonesian rule. It includes interviews with human rights victims and political prisoners, as well as rare footage of freedom fighters in their jungle stronghold.
Background
There has been widespread resistance to Indonesian rule since West Papua came under its control in 1969. Brown travelled without the knowledge or authority of the Indonesian authorities in order to make the film, putting himself and those who helped him at great personal risk[2].
The documentary also features an interview conducted with Yusak Pakage, a high profile West Papuan political prisoners recognised by Amnesty International as a ‘prisoner of conscience’. He is currently serving a ten year prison sentence for raising the West Papuan flag during a ceremony in 2004. The interview was recorded in secret by Brown during a hospital visit where Pakage was receiving treatment for torture.
There is also footage providing viewers with an insight into recent developments on the international arena towards West Papuan self-determination, including the launch of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.
Film festivals
- Green Man Festival, UK - 2009
- Raindance Festival, UK - 2009
- United Nations 'We The Peoples' Film Festival, UK - 2009
- Pan African Film & Arts Festival, USA - 2010
- Byron Bay International Film Festival, Australia - 2010
- Native & Indigenous Film Festival, Czech Republic - 2010
Television
- BBC Newsnight, UK (12 minute feature) - March 2009
- ABC News, Australia (7 minute report) - September 2009
- Channel 4 News, UK (short segment used for report on West Papua) - October 2010
See also
- Free Papua Movement
- Papua conflict
- Friends of Peoples Close to Nature
- Act of Free Choice
- International Parliamentarians for West Papua
References
- ^ "Outline of film". FBOP. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ "Fly Global film review". Fly Global Music. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2009-09-30.