Michaël Sewandono

In the corrupt and violent world of deforestation in Southeast Asia, three characters fight for their own destiny, but find themselves overpowered by a world of chaos and mystical forces beyond their control.

Mandai River is about our relation with nature, and therefore about our relation with ourselves. A topic that is incredibly current as the Covid pandemic reminds us again that our destructive attitude is like cutting our own umbilical cord. The characters are confronted with their lack of relevance within the uncontrollable forces that surround them. Next to the hardened world of corruption and destruction, the setting follows the idea of a forest as one colossal sentient presence that rooted in Indonesian mysticism connects the characters with the awareness that nature will claim its rights. Nature prevails and outlives us all, yet we are one with it. And this onnection is perhaps the most meaningful relationship in our existence, the metaphysical entanglement with nature.