A FILM hailed in an arena widely acknowledged as the premiere documentary showcase world-wide is to screen later this month as part of the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF).

, by Dutch film-maker Leonard Retel Helmrich, won the Grand Jury Prize at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) last November.

The film follows a period in the life of a family in Indonesia, documenting their impoverished existence in the bustling city of Jakarta and their struggles in a tiny village in Central Java.

"Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, everyone wants to know how people in Islamic countries live," explained Mr. Retel Helmrich of his choice to highlight that area.

"For me personally, (the decision was made because) the family originally came from the village where my family came from. My grandfather was a Kyai, an Islamic religious leader in the village. My mother also lived in the village, but during World War Two left and went to the city. I was researching to make a film about life in the country and life in the city. I wanted to follow my mother's footsteps to see what she'd been through and, in doing so, met the family. I decided it was best if I travelled back and forth with them, between Jakarta and the village."

The film, which also won the World Cinema Documentary Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, is one of six highly-acclaimed documentaries that will screen as part of BIFF's World Cinema Showcase.

As described by a BIFF spokesperson, Indonesia is the fourth biggest nation in the world, and the country with the largest Muslim community.

"In , we are transported to the heart of this almost unknown landscape through the life of one family of three generations, who are struggling to build a bridge between hope and faith. Rumidjah, a 62-year-old widow, lives in Jakarta with her son Bakti and her 13-year-old granddaughter Tari.

"Rapid globalisation and democratisation have spawned a subculture of criminality and uncertainty in Indonesia. Islam is trying to maintain order and discipline, while becoming increasingly fundamentalist in its tone.

"When her son Bakti converts to Islam to marry a Muslim girl, Rumidjah seriously considers leaving the hectic city forever.

"The care for her granddaughter is the one and only thing that still ties Rumidjah to the city. She decides to take her on a visit to her native village in Central Java. Rumidjah soon realises that in the countryside things haven't stayed the same either.

"Every day she walks through fields of rice looking for work, but mechanisation has made it almost impossible to find employment on the farms. Through her faith in God, Rumidjah carries on looking for work and doesn't lose hope for a better future." is the second in a trilogy of films the director shot on Indonesia.

"The first, is about political imbalance and how it affects the people of Indonesia," he explained.

"is about how religious things affect people. I'm now researching the third film, which will look at economics and globalisation and how that affects people."

Although his family is from Indonesia, Mr. Retel Helmrich ? one of eight children ? was born in Holland. So interested in tracing his history, he spent a year with the family, living close to them in the city and the tiny village while he shot the documentary. Each moment was captured as it happened, in one shot.

"What's three minutes on film, in reality is about three hours," he said of his mammoth editing task.

As such, he is elated that the film is receiving some international recognition and is confident it will be appreciated by the people of Indonesia.

"The film will be shown in Jakarta and I know the family will watch it," he said.

"It's not a criticism of how they live in that sense. I know they will see it for what it is. I have tried to show life there without judging ? I've only shown what has taken place.

"Of course, the awards are fantastic," he added. "Especially the prize at Sundance. (However) in Holland, very little notice was taken of that accolade.

"There were very few articles in the newspaper because, surprisingly, they really know little about the Sundance Film Festival."

The one downside, Mr. Retel Helmrich said, is that can never be a contender for the prestigious Oscar awards.

"The problem with submitting work for the Academy is that the film is not allowed to have aired on television before and in our contract with Dutch Television, it must be shown by the end of the year."

Although pleased that his film is to be shown as part of the eighth BIFF, Mr. Retel Helmrich was disappointed he would not be able to attend the event himself.

"I would really like to come to the festival but I have a deadline for (another) documentary," he said.

q will screen at the Liberty Theatre, Friday, March 18 at 9.30 p.m. and in the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute auditorium on Sunday, March 20, at 9 p.m.

BIFF tickets are now on sale online only, at www.biff.bm. Tickets will go on sale at the BIFF Front Room box office at the Number One Passenger Terminal on Front Street, as of tomorrow. The box office will remain open through March 23, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Individual film tickets are $10.