Newtopia

The young and adventurous backpacker Audun Amundsen is spellbound by the pure, unspoiled tribal life deep in the jungle of Indonesia. He wants to get as far away as possible from his own modern life in Norway. While living in the jungle on the island of Mentawai, a strong bond grows between him and the Shaman and medicine man Aman Paksa. As the years pass by, the romantic harmony starts to crumble. The Mentawaians are introduced to rapid modernization, or rather – to the trash of the modern world. Natural materials are swapped with plastic, barter with capitalism, bows and arrows with guns, paddling oars with motors and muddy paths with cement. Slowly but surely the island is overrun by new religions, immigration, TV-crews and tourism. Amundsen, who also holds a camera, is accused of being just like all the other tourists. Is he? Or does he have a chance to help Aman Paksa on his sudden jolt towards modernity? Aman Paksa is torn between two worlds that seem impossible to unite. He craves modernity and is longing for a safer, simpler life for himself and his family. However, accessing the modernity that is currently available to him would mean giving up on his traditional way of living and thinking.