Film Cowboys In Paradise - The director of the documentary “Cowboys in Paradise,” an already hugely controversial look at the gigolo lifestyles of Bali’s “Kuta Cowboys,” has already begun to receive hate mail and death threats, despite few Indonesians having seen the film.
Singapore-based writer and director Amit Virmani told the thejakartaglobe.com that he never expected the documentary — which he describes as a compassionate look at the lives of the beach boys and their families — to create so much controversy and hatred.
He said the negative feelings were plain to see from the comments posted on the trailers to the film on Youtube.
“It’s unfortunate that people are making this out to be anti-Indonesian film by an Indian filmmaker,” Amit said. “That’s ridiculous and dangerous in today’s climate where harmony is so fragile. Besides, hatred is not what the film is about. And it’s not what Bali is about,” he said.
One of the emails sent to Amit describes his as an “irresponsible idiot” and he has “become the biggest enemy in Bali.”
Another calls him a “rubbish man,” mistaking him for an Indian man Amit interviewed as part of the documentary. In the film the man, who speaks positively about the Cowboys and says they have many positive economic impacts on the resort island, said the beach boys were part of the “national gross product,” which is misunderstood.
“Hi f***ing amit virmani... wtf do you mean by national gross product? you are the gross director.. I even don’t acquiesce to write your f***ing indian name in capital..because I dont f***ing respect rubish man like YOU !!!,” the email said.
Amit said the man was wrongly attacked for being “anti-Bali” and “jealous” of the Cowboys.
“But he’s a vocal supporter of the Cowboys! He insists they’re doing nothing wrong, that the world should not judge them because in their own way they add color to Bali. That’s the problem when you judge a film by a 2-minute trailer. Rather than being jealous of the Cowboys, in the film he explains their obvious appeal to women, and the failure of other men (himself included!) to connect with women as well as they do,” Amit said.
A harsher threat was sent to one of Amit’s Facebook friends who had spoken positively about the film. “I will stitch your ass to your mouth and leave your arms on the street to be crush by trucks and I will cut out your eyes out with a rusty knife before boil you alive.”
Amit reiterated that there was no need for hatred.
“I cannot emphasize enough that it is not the point of the film. None of the people involved in making the film, or the people interviewed for it, think the beach boys pose any danger to tourists or hurt their holiday experience. We sincerely hope our film is not used as an excuse to victimize the beach boys,” Amit said.
He said he was concerned about Monday’s raids on Kuta Beach, in which Bali tourism officials and security personnel had allegedly targeted 28 men with “tanned and muscular” bodies.
“What I find troubling is news of the recent raids, rounding up men with ‘tanned and muscular bodies’ on the beach. It’s not my place to question the motivations behind such actions. I’m sure the government officials have to deal with issues larger than the film,” Amit said.
Bali Tourism Board chief Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya said on Monday that “Cowboys in Paradise” had nothing to do with Bali’s reputation as the most sought-after tourism destination in the world.
“That documentary, I believe, was over the top. It in no way represents what Bali is truly about, which is a world-class cultural destination,” Ida Bagus said.
Amit said he agreed with Ida.
“I just want to go on record saying that I wholeheartedly agree with what the Bali Tourism Board is saying. In fact, I’m not sure why they would think our position is otherwise. The film is about one small aspect of life on a holiday island. It does not suggest that the Cowboys are all that Bali is about. It was never the point we sought to make, and the film should not be used as a counterpoint to Bali’s status as a world-class tourist destination, nor call into question the beauty of the island and her people,” Amit said.
Singapore-based writer and director Amit Virmani told the thejakartaglobe.com that he never expected the documentary — which he describes as a compassionate look at the lives of the beach boys and their families — to create so much controversy and hatred.
He said the negative feelings were plain to see from the comments posted on the trailers to the film on Youtube.
“It’s unfortunate that people are making this out to be anti-Indonesian film by an Indian filmmaker,” Amit said. “That’s ridiculous and dangerous in today’s climate where harmony is so fragile. Besides, hatred is not what the film is about. And it’s not what Bali is about,” he said.
One of the emails sent to Amit describes his as an “irresponsible idiot” and he has “become the biggest enemy in Bali.”
Another calls him a “rubbish man,” mistaking him for an Indian man Amit interviewed as part of the documentary. In the film the man, who speaks positively about the Cowboys and says they have many positive economic impacts on the resort island, said the beach boys were part of the “national gross product,” which is misunderstood.
“Hi f***ing amit virmani... wtf do you mean by national gross product? you are the gross director.. I even don’t acquiesce to write your f***ing indian name in capital..because I dont f***ing respect rubish man like YOU !!!,” the email said.
Amit said the man was wrongly attacked for being “anti-Bali” and “jealous” of the Cowboys.
“But he’s a vocal supporter of the Cowboys! He insists they’re doing nothing wrong, that the world should not judge them because in their own way they add color to Bali. That’s the problem when you judge a film by a 2-minute trailer. Rather than being jealous of the Cowboys, in the film he explains their obvious appeal to women, and the failure of other men (himself included!) to connect with women as well as they do,” Amit said.
A harsher threat was sent to one of Amit’s Facebook friends who had spoken positively about the film. “I will stitch your ass to your mouth and leave your arms on the street to be crush by trucks and I will cut out your eyes out with a rusty knife before boil you alive.”
Amit reiterated that there was no need for hatred.
“I cannot emphasize enough that it is not the point of the film. None of the people involved in making the film, or the people interviewed for it, think the beach boys pose any danger to tourists or hurt their holiday experience. We sincerely hope our film is not used as an excuse to victimize the beach boys,” Amit said.
He said he was concerned about Monday’s raids on Kuta Beach, in which Bali tourism officials and security personnel had allegedly targeted 28 men with “tanned and muscular” bodies.
“What I find troubling is news of the recent raids, rounding up men with ‘tanned and muscular bodies’ on the beach. It’s not my place to question the motivations behind such actions. I’m sure the government officials have to deal with issues larger than the film,” Amit said.
Bali Tourism Board chief Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya said on Monday that “Cowboys in Paradise” had nothing to do with Bali’s reputation as the most sought-after tourism destination in the world.
“That documentary, I believe, was over the top. It in no way represents what Bali is truly about, which is a world-class cultural destination,” Ida Bagus said.
Amit said he agreed with Ida.
“I just want to go on record saying that I wholeheartedly agree with what the Bali Tourism Board is saying. In fact, I’m not sure why they would think our position is otherwise. The film is about one small aspect of life on a holiday island. It does not suggest that the Cowboys are all that Bali is about. It was never the point we sought to make, and the film should not be used as a counterpoint to Bali’s status as a world-class tourist destination, nor call into question the beauty of the island and her people,” Amit said.
