http://worldchannel.org/programs/episode/where-heaven-meets-hell/
Airing Sunday, June 2, 2013 on World!
http://worldchannel.org/programs/global-voices/
Where Heaven Meets Hell begins with Anto, a young miner who is among 500 sulfur miners working at Kawah Ijen, an active volcano in Indonesia. Having taught himself several languages, he has the intelligence necessary to create a better life for his family. As the film progresses, Anto stumbles deeper into escapism, to the point of endangering his family's well-being — the very thing he's trying to protect.
Purnomo, Anto's best friend, who suffers from the onset of lung disease, regards Anto's desire to escape the mine with a passive skepticism. He admits that he doesn't have the intelligence or motivation to break away from his life as a miner. As we see his story contrasted with Anto's delusions of grandeur, it begs the question of how we should measure "success."
Sukarman, the oldest of the miners, refuses to let his children pursue his path as a miner. He makes every effort to create a better life for his family. His story culminates as he invests his life savings to open a small shop for his daughter to manage.
The fourth miner, Hadis, and his daughter Tuti represent the uncertainty facing the future of their community. Tuti is a promising young student, unable to attend school because her father can't afford the fees.
Will the miners ever be able to leave life at the mine? This intimate portrait chronicles their attempts to escape the endemic poverty and lack of education that haunts their community. Drawing strength from their families and their Muslim faith, the miners search for meaning in their daily struggles and triumphs.
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