IRIAN JAYA

"The Gardens of war", an ethnic documentary showing the eternal source of conflicts between men of all races: greed, possession and power.

 

Originally commissioned by the Indonesian government, “The Gardens of War” is an astounding documentary about the tribes on the Western part of Papua New Guinea: Irian Jaya. One of the most remote and inaccessible places on earth. It is literally a leap into the Stone Age. No roads, no infrastructures, just a few rough landing strips, missionary compounds and on the coast, a few oil company installations!

A part of Indonesia, Irian Jaya has been kept unspoiled and closed to tourism. The Great Baliem valley is populated by ethnic tribes that have none or very little contact with civilization. They are often engaged in constant ritual warfares.

Two local tribes, armed with archaic and ancestral weapons are about to confront each other. The fierce warriors, have painted on their naked bodies war symbols. They are only wearing their traditional penis gourds. Some have human bones and wild boar teeth as ornament. The reason for this confrontation: A stolen pig!

While the warriors from the two sides are trying to impress each other brandishing their javelins and their axes. The tension mounts, the two camps shout at each other and utter impressive war cries.

We are only 20 meters away from the nearest warrior. There must be at least 200 Papuans positioned like an army in these plains where grows cassava and sweet potatoes.

Each camp observes, scrutinizes, gauges itself. There is going to be blood!