B1 — Intermediate
The Papua region in Indonesia has the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest and rich biodiversity. However, large government projects are causing serious environmental and human rights problems.
The new film Pesta Babi (Pig Feast) shows how the government exploits the land and people from local communities in Papua. This is why the Indonesian authorities are trying to prevent people from seeing the film.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the controversial documentary film from Indonesia.
https://newsinlevels.com/products/indonesia-stops-a-movie-about-papua-forests-level-3
Vocabulary Questions:
- What is the meaning of “sacred”? ”However, these forests are the home of Indigenous Papuans who depend on them for survival, and their sacred sites are located there.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “screening” mean here, “The military stopped screenings at universities because they said the topic was too sensitive and could cause trouble.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
- What does “sold-out” mean? “The government’s attempts to ban the documentary have generated massive publicity, which has led to sold-out screenings across the country.” Use the expression in a sentence. Give a synonym.
Discussion Questions:
- Why is the Indonesian government trying to stop the showing of this documentary film? What is your opinion about that?
- What is your opinion about the makers of this film getting serious threats and the police watching them?
- If there was a similar documentary in your country, would you like to see it even if your government prohibits it?
- Talk about a very controversial issue in your country that you think the government tried to prevent people from knowing about.
- What are some of the most politically sensitive topics in your country or in the world right now?
2 replies on “Indonesia Stops a Documentary Film about Papua Forests”
Vocabulary Questions:
1. Sacred means something connected or related to God.
A sentence could be “in my house I have a sacred place to pray”
2. In this sentence, screening means showing the film to the students at the university.
A sentence could be “The cinema stopped screening my favourite movie last week”
3. Sold-out means all the tickets have been sold.
A sentece could be “The tickets for the Bad Bunny concert are sold out”
Discussion Questions:
1. I don´t know exactly why the government is trying to ban de movie, but I think it is because they don´t want the rest of the world to know about this situation.
In my opinion, this is no rigth because if the government it is going against people´s rigths, they should be judged for that.
2. In my opinion, this is no rigth because filmmakers are just telling the real situacion that is happening in this country, they aren´t telling lies or anything like that.
3. Yes, I would like to see it because I want to know what is happening in my country and I want to protest if something is not rigth.
4. In Argentina, the previous government want to sold lands with icebergs and natural resources that are property of the country.
5.
You did well in writing your answers to the discussion questions.
A corrected version of this sentence is:
Keep practicing your writing to see more and more progress.