the Film Cowboys in Paradise was telling about bali siland and the lives there.
Kuta. Stung by the new documentary “Cowboys in Paradise,” which examines the phenomenon of “Kuta Cowboys” — gigolos working Bali’s beaches and bars — Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said on Tuesday that he would investigate whether the director had the necessary permits to film on the island.
The former Bali Police chief expressed disappointment at the documentary, which he claimed only focused on the negative side of the Island of the Gods.
“I thank Kuta’s residents who helped conduct raids against those they suspect of being gigolos,” Made Mangku said, referring to the questioning of 28 well-built men on the beach on Monday. “The main thing is, do not use violence.”
News of the documentary has spread across Web sites nationwide, and Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar Dwi Putra confirmed that Bali Police were investigating it.
The film, completed last year after two years in production, premiered at the DMZ Documentary Film Festival in South Korea last Wednesday.
“We are still collecting some information because we have only seen part of the movie from YouTube. We haven’t seen the whole movie yet,” Sugianyar said, adding that police would coordinate with the supervisory body that issued filmmaking permits.
The film — which documents the relationships between foreign female tourists and male prostitutes, the “Kuta Cowboys” of the title — immediately touched a raw nerve, with Kuta Beach task force members raiding the beach.
Amit Virmani, the documentary’s director, said he has received hate mail and threats. In an interview with the Jakarta Globe (see story below) he said he was horrified at the reaction and hoped the film was not used as an excuse to victimize the beach boys.
Kuta traditional village chief Gusti Ketut Sudira acknowledged that “the gigolo phenomenon has been around for some time in Bali, maybe 20 years or so,” and said the footage of Kuta was genuine.
But he insisted that no “Kuta Cowboy” featured in the movie was local to the area. The director should be made to identify the men appearing, he insisted.
“The movie must contain a detailed explanation on who it actually is referring to as a gigolo,” he said. “I’m positive that most of them are outsiders, not residents of Kuta, as implied in the film.”
Unlike Amit Virmani, who did not seem to find any trouble identifying which of the scores of muscular men hanging out at Kuta beach could be gigolos, Gusti Ketut said it was difficult to identify them.
“This community conducts its activities in a secretive manner or through covers, like acting as a food or drink seller or providing other services on the beach he said. “Raids will continue. If we find anyone on the beach who has no business there, we will process them.”
Meanwhile, rules must be tightened on filming, he added.
“It is so easy to get permission to film the Kuta area. This is a valuable lesson to us. We will tighten such measures from now on. We will demand recommendations on which film crews can operate. We do not want this to ever happen again.”
Kuta. Stung by the new documentary “Cowboys in Paradise,” which examines the phenomenon of “Kuta Cowboys” — gigolos working Bali’s beaches and bars — Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said on Tuesday that he would investigate whether the director had the necessary permits to film on the island.
The former Bali Police chief expressed disappointment at the documentary, which he claimed only focused on the negative side of the Island of the Gods.
“I thank Kuta’s residents who helped conduct raids against those they suspect of being gigolos,” Made Mangku said, referring to the questioning of 28 well-built men on the beach on Monday. “The main thing is, do not use violence.”
News of the documentary has spread across Web sites nationwide, and Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar Dwi Putra confirmed that Bali Police were investigating it.
The film, completed last year after two years in production, premiered at the DMZ Documentary Film Festival in South Korea last Wednesday.
“We are still collecting some information because we have only seen part of the movie from YouTube. We haven’t seen the whole movie yet,” Sugianyar said, adding that police would coordinate with the supervisory body that issued filmmaking permits.
The film — which documents the relationships between foreign female tourists and male prostitutes, the “Kuta Cowboys” of the title — immediately touched a raw nerve, with Kuta Beach task force members raiding the beach.
Amit Virmani, the documentary’s director, said he has received hate mail and threats. In an interview with the Jakarta Globe (see story below) he said he was horrified at the reaction and hoped the film was not used as an excuse to victimize the beach boys.
Kuta traditional village chief Gusti Ketut Sudira acknowledged that “the gigolo phenomenon has been around for some time in Bali, maybe 20 years or so,” and said the footage of Kuta was genuine.
But he insisted that no “Kuta Cowboy” featured in the movie was local to the area. The director should be made to identify the men appearing, he insisted.
“The movie must contain a detailed explanation on who it actually is referring to as a gigolo,” he said. “I’m positive that most of them are outsiders, not residents of Kuta, as implied in the film.”
Unlike Amit Virmani, who did not seem to find any trouble identifying which of the scores of muscular men hanging out at Kuta beach could be gigolos, Gusti Ketut said it was difficult to identify them.
“This community conducts its activities in a secretive manner or through covers, like acting as a food or drink seller or providing other services on the beach he said. “Raids will continue. If we find anyone on the beach who has no business there, we will process them.”
Meanwhile, rules must be tightened on filming, he added.
“It is so easy to get permission to film the Kuta area. This is a valuable lesson to us. We will tighten such measures from now on. We will demand recommendations on which film crews can operate. We do not want this to ever happen again.”
