Papua New Guinea - Tribal War Film

STORY

Saki’s brother was killed in a brutal tribal war in 2008. He held on to resentment for nearly a decade. When another war broke out in 2016 he took his revenge by murdering a man from his enemy's clan. Now, this man’s brother-in-law comes to avenge the blood on Saki’s hands. The stories of revenge and retribution in the tribal wars of Enga have been exacerbated in recent years by alcohol and modern weapons that have been introduced into the communities. The effects of long-standing violence between the tribes have ravaged the highlands and shattered societies and communities. But in this vicious cycle of war and revenge, Saki meets a man who will change everything.

BACKGROUND

Papua New Guinea is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean with more than 600 tribal groups and about 850 different native languages. Kompiam, a district in the Enga Province, has been under the siege of tribal fights for generations. These begin as quarrels between individuals, families, sub-clans or tribes, stemming from pride, jealousy, anger, lust, greed and addictions. Traditional weapons such as bows and arrows have been replaced with machetes and guns, drastically changing the rules of tribal warfare. The new ease in the pull of a trigger leads to an exponential number of lives being lost in the chaos of war. Violent warlords now kill even women and children with little remorse, a historical rule which was never breached in the past.

In this new era of conflict, houses, gardens, schools and shops are burnt down, families are torn apart and entire tribes are displaced from their homelands. Resentment takes deep roots within the hearts of individuals as well as the collective memory of entire tribes, resulting in the fights continuing for decades and often spilling over generations.

HELP US BRING CHANGE

As bad as all of this sounds, there is hope in the Highlands through this story. In this documentary film, Saki tells the gripping story of the moment he meets the brother of the man he killed. Instead of hate for one another, these men experience a transformative change in repentance, influenced by a faith-driven love. We believe that their example of redemption through forgiveness would be an inspiration for many others in the region, to understand that they CAN stop the vicious cycle of destruction and death. Targeted towards the Engans and narrated in their local language, this educational film will be a catalyst to ignite the spark of hope, recovery and transformation in Kompiam and Enga.

TEAM

Director - Maarten Honkoop

Maarten is a filmmaker and content creator originally from the Netherlands. He is responsible for various film projects focusing on crucial health and development problems in Papua New Guinea (PNG) often in collaboration with YWAM Medical Ships. After his training at University of the Nations, he directed the film “Beyond the Island” in 2020 and has filmed and produced several short documentaries since. He has developed a strong vision for helping vulnerable groups such as women and children through the media and raising awareness about their situations of injustice. Through his international relations and various skills in multimedia and music, he is a powerful storyteller.

Executive Producer - Matilda Aquila Chia

Matilda is a Creative Film Producer, Art Director and Media Specialist from Singapore specializing in current affairs and infotainment verticals on linear, OTT and social platforms. She has a calling to tell human and social-centric stories and is driven to create daring, meaningful, and responsible content that will impact viewers across borders. Her debut short documentary film 'Life Is Live' won multiple awards at film festivals locally and internationally. She has since shot and produced various shows and digital content ranging from short documentaries to narratives for companies such as Yahoo News, NBCUniversal, and Channel News Asia (CNA).

Line and Story Producer - Camy Thomas

Camy Thomas is a Dentist of Indian origin who has been working in Kompiam District Hospital, in Papua New Guinea, since 2018. Beyond her dental chair, she discovers not only the patients seeking treatment but also the stories that define them. In this kaleidoscope of people, languages, and cultures, she has come to realise that one person's story often resonates with the experiences of many. She has grown to see how the story of one can also be the story of many.

Translator and cultural consultant - Xaffocca Injo

Born and raised in Enga Province, in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Xaffocca has grown up knowing the struggles of rural PNG. She has been blessed to receive an excellent education while also experiencing the life of an average Papua New Guinean in the Enga Province.

Xaffocca is a strong communicator and translator in English, Tok Pidgin and Engan. With her roots in the Kompiam District, her insight into the people, culture, and stories of the land are invaluable. With her contribution to the film, she will help to ensure the accurate portrayal and telling of the story that will bring healing and hope to her people of Enga and Papua New Guinea.