VIVAnews - Arts and culture are two of the more effective tools of diplomacy. Movies, music, dance, painting and other forms of arts can be a bridge for mutual understanding of different cultures.
The movie “Laskar Pelangi” (Rainbow Warriors) by Riri Riza and Mira Lesmana apparently not only fascinate audiences in Indonesia. The Australian government through the Australian Embassy in Jakarta is also interested to show the education-themed movie in Australia.
Fiona Hoggart, Australian Cultural Attaché for Indonesia expressed her desire for Australians to know more about Indonesia. One of the ways is to have the movie Laskar Pelangi play in cinemas in Australia.
"Hopefully this year I can invite the director and producer of Laskar Pelangi to Australia and screen the movie there," said Hoggart. "Especially Riri Riza and Mira Lesmana had studied in Australia ... They must have strong Australian mind," added Hoggart.
Hoggart emphasize the need to build a stronger relationship between the people of both countries. "Currently, the Australian and Indonesian governments have built a solid relationship. However, in the field of socio-culture, there is still a lot of cooperation that can be done," said Hoggart after watching a “Ten Canoes,” a movie with the theme of Aboriginal tribes’ life, at the Australian Embassy, Friday, Jan. 16.
"There are still many things can we do in the field of culture. This is because among the majority of Australians, many still don’t understand that Indonesia now lives in democracy. They don’t know that Indonesia already has the freedom of the press, and so on,” said Hoggart.
Similarly, vice versa, in Indonesia there are still people who do not know that the contemporary Australians are a multiple society, and that the relationship between Australians and the indigenous population has improved.
Therefore, said Hoggart, it is important to do cultural exchange programs such as showing movies with arts and culture themes to show the good relationship between Australia and the Aboriginal community. Arts and cultural exchange will develop an understanding of and share knowledge about each other.
The relationship between Australia and Indonesia (people-to-people) should also be built. "The way we can do it is through movies, dances, paintings, and so on, because that way we can understand each other," said Hoggart.
Translated by: Ramona Sofianne Dewi
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