In 1961, the anthropologist Robert Gardner traveled to Irian Jaya (now known as West Papua) to live among the Dani of the Baliem Valley for six months and make a film about their ways of life. At the time of Gardner’s trip, the Dani were an isolated people, with little to no contact with the outside world, aside from Christian missionaries and scattered encounters. During his six months in the Baliem Valley, Gardner produced a book and the iconic anthropological film, "Dead Birds."The journey that led to the making of this project began when I first traveled to the Baliem Valley with Robert Gardner, on his return visit to the Dani in 1988. A small team, including my partner Dick Rogers, and cinematographer Robert Fulton, set out to find Bob’s old friends Pua, Weyak, and Kurelu, who were central to his 1964 film "Dead Birds." We wanted to record what we could of the changes that had occurred in the valley since the film was made. However, it was not until our follow-up trip in 1996 that I personally felt the enormity of the impact time had revealed.
-SM
Aloro, one of the subjects of Dead Birds, greeted Gardner in the village with a traditional Dani gesture of intimacy and trust. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Robert Gardner, filmmaker and anthropologist, returns after 27 years to show the Dani the film "Dead Birds", shot in 1961. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
A sequence from Robert Gardner's 1964 film, "Dead Birds," depicting Pua, the seven year old pig farmer and protagonist of the film.
Robert Garner, filmmaker and anthropologist, return to the Baliem Valley after 27 years to show the Dani still photographs from the filming of 'dead Birds'. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Pua holds a photograph of himself as a boy of 7, from the film "Dead Birds" about the Dani Tribe, shot in 1961 by Robert Gardner. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Pua shows his daughter the book "Gardens of War" with photographs by Robert Gardner. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Dani men sharing a smoke near their village. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
30 years after the making his film "Dead Birds", Robert GARDNER returns to Irian Jaya. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Baliem Valley. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Dani prepare for a pig feast. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Members of the Dani tribe carrying brush. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Wamena Market where the Dani are often seen in a mix of traditional life with commercial needs. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Dani reenactment for tourists
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Dani tribe members on street. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
American filmmaker Robert Gardner with a member of the Dani Tribe. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
A sequence from Robert Gardner's 1964 film, "Dead Birds," depicting Pua, the seven year old pig farmer and protagonist of the film.
Dani reenactment for tourists
Next section Dead Birds Revisited
Aloro, one of the subjects of Dead Birds, greeted Gardner in the village with a traditional Dani gesture of intimacy and trust. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Robert Gardner, filmmaker and anthropologist, returns after 27 years to show the Dani the film "Dead Birds", shot in 1961. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
A sequence from Robert Gardner's 1964 film, "Dead Birds," depicting Pua, the seven year old pig farmer and protagonist of the film.
Robert Garner, filmmaker and anthropologist, return to the Baliem Valley after 27 years to show the Dani still photographs from the filming of 'dead Birds'. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Pua holds a photograph of himself as a boy of 7, from the film "Dead Birds" about the Dani Tribe, shot in 1961 by Robert Gardner. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Pua shows his daughter the book "Gardens of War" with photographs by Robert Gardner. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Dani men sharing a smoke near their village. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
30 years after the making his film "Dead Birds", Robert GARDNER returns to Irian Jaya. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Baliem Valley. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Dani prepare for a pig feast. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Members of the Dani tribe carrying brush. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Wamena Market where the Dani are often seen in a mix of traditional life with commercial needs. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Dani reenactment for tourists
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Dani tribe members on street. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.
American filmmaker Robert Gardner with a member of the Dani Tribe. Irian Jaya. Indonesia. 1989.