•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

A massively under-diagnosed autoimmune disorder is getting some much-needed exposure in Indonesian director Damien Dematra’s new film, “L4 Lupus,” believed to be the first movie to ever focus on sufferers of the disease.

He said he was motivated to make the movie in the hopes of spreading awareness of lupus, which causes the body’s autoimmune system to overreact and attack healthy cells. According to Damien, 1.5 million Indonesians suffer from lupus, but only about 10,000 are aware that they have it.

“Most people only know lupus as bubble gum, instead of a disease,” he said at the film’s premiere on Monday, referring to a popular fictional teen idol named Lupus whose character has appeared in movies and novels. “After watching the movie, hopefully there will be awareness and lupus sufferers in Indonesia could be detected and healed.”

Damien, best known for his film, “Obama Anak Menteng” [“Obama the Menteng Kid”], adapted the screenplay from his novel of the same name.

Health Minister Endang R. Sedyaningsih said she appreciated the informational message of the film.

“Indonesia should be proud of the film as this is the first film in the world [to center on lupus],” she said. “Moreover, this film opens our eyes about lupus in Indonesia.”

“L4 Lupus” has already won recognition from the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) as the first movie in the world about lupus.

“Usually, films get awards after being watched, but this is vice versa,” said MURI founder Jaya Suprana.

“L4 Lupus” tells the story of a young doctor named Atikah who lives with her deaf, mute, blind, lupus-suffering sister. Eventually, the lupus kills the sister. As Atikah struggles to pick up the pieces of her life, she then discovers that she, too, is suffering from the same disease. 

Antara