Web design by Miikka Poutiainen


Here Be Dragons
New Guinea, the second largest island in the world, is home to 1000 tribes and 1000 languages. When colonialists, missionaries and multinational corporations invaded New Guinea the impact was devastating. Tribal traditions went on a collision course with modern civilization, not to mention globalization, resulting in rampant corruption, tribal warfare and apocalyptic millennial movements. The island is overflowing with missionaries of all kind, using every means to stay ahead in the race for souls.

The island is divided into two and the western half known as West Papua. The history of the territory diverged in 1962, when nominal colonial rule was replaced with Indonesian tyranny. The handover was masterminded by John F. Kennedy and implemented under the auspices of the United Nations. During the following decades thousands of West Papuans have lost their lives. They have been beaten, raped and murdered or simply "disappeared". The soil of West Papua hides unimaginable riches which are being plundered with little regard for the environment. The world's largest open-cut goldmine has turned sacred rivers into cesspools.

The film is divided into two episodes. Episode one: No Hallelujah, No Tobacco. Episode two: First Come, Last Served.