Lamalera

Nestled in Eastern Indonesia, Lamalera is a village defined by an ancient tradition: the hunting of whales. Passed down through generations, this practice is not merely a livelihood — it is the heartbeat of the community. But change is on the horizon. Young people are leaving for work and study in the cities, and outside pressure to abandon whaling grows ever louder.

At the centre of this story are four voices. Kris, a 15-year-old navigating high school and an uncertain future. Her father Karolous, a seasoned harpooner carrying the weight of tradition. Ignacious, a respected ship builder whose craft is inseparable from the hunt. And Sister Maria, a Catholic nun offering her own quiet perspective on a village in transition.

Together, they open the doors of their world — offering an intimate, first-hand portrait of one of the last indigenous whaling cultures on earth, and revealing how every thread of life in Lamalera leads back to the sea.