Review of Baraka (1992) by Jeff R — 22 Jun 2008

Within the first 15 minutes of this stirring, disturbing, inspiring and visually stimulating film, I found myself looking at the face of an old friend. Before me in all of his splendor was the great Pendanda, the High Priest of Pura Ulun Siwi. This gentle eloquent man had taken me under his wing on my very first day in Bali. Wide-eyed and ignorant, looking for excitement, he shared his culture and revelled in my utmost respect shown to all that was sacred to him. He spent countless hours forming my hands in the significant shapes needed to convey ones devotion to dance, reshaping the slight bend of my head, teaching me the wild wide-eyed stare of witnessing Sita's beauty unfolding before me. The Pendanda mused with me over the malleable nature of culture, the importance of building on traditions, exploring that culture and tradition are not static concepts. He openly wondered why many foreigners see any addition to a living culture as offensive or abusive, a bastardisation of what they think is supposed to be sacred and preserved. He viewed culture as always evolving, always changing, and we are the master artists of that change for future generations to cherish. He interpreted the Ramayana plays as allegories that had just as much meaning and significance to me as they did for him. He had me sit next to him as he led a hundred villagers in the Legong dance, he was Sita the princess and he was also the Sun, as he had put it in my minds lexicon. All the while he listened intently to my young opinions, my attempt to voice thoughts, and my great appreciation of his patience and wisdom. His tiny stature, his sunburned brow, his broken teeth, were the vessel incarnate for this magnificent walking shadow of Buddha & avatar of Vishnu.

I attended my Pendanda's funeral in 2000, one of the most joyous moments of my life was sending Bowho to his afterlife and knowing he would be there waiting for us to join him ..... and dance.

I cannot think of a better tribute to the life of this great man.