'The dream was there, but now it's gone,' sings Litius, the protagonist of a new film about HIV/AIDS in Papua.

Ukulele in tow, Litius sings of loss, of a future affected by HIV that he feels can never be fulfilled, but in truth, Cinta Dari Wamena (From Wamena with Love) rails against that vision. It is a film of hope and renewal.

Supported by the district government of Jayawijaya, Papua; the Australian government's aid agency (AusAID); and the Ford Foundation, Cinta Dari Wamena tries to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS across Indonesia.

'The movie highlights the need for awareness of what HIV is and how it can be prevented, both for our own health and so we can share that knowledge with our friends and family, said AusAID acting head in Indonesia Mat Kimberley, at the film's premiere in Jakarta.

In the movie, teenagers Litius (Maximus Itlay), Tembi (Benjamin Lagowan) and Martha (Madonna Marrey) leave their village in Papua and head to the town of Wamena in search of a better education. There, they meet new friends and are exposed to new influences and dangers, the biggest of which is HIV/AIDS.

It's no co-incidence the film is set in Papua province. According to UNICEF Indonesia, Papua has a HIV rate almost 15 times higher than the national average. The National AIDS Commission (KPA) says the provinces of Papua and West Papua are experiencing a low-level HIV epidemic. About 30,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV in the provinces today.

Nor is it by chance the film focuses on youth. The prevalence of HIV among 15-to-24-year-olds in the two provinces is thought to be even higher than the general population there. All the more reason then, for a film like this to connect with younger generations by hitting the big screens of Indonesia.

Directed by Lasja Susatyo, the film keeps it nice and simple. Thankfully, there's no complex plot or attention-grabbing side effects to be had. With a sprinkling of humor, the film rightly focuses on increasing understanding of HIV, debunking some of its myths while warning of the paths that lead to infection. Lasja strikes a good balance.

The film shows how HIV is almost entirely spread by unsafe sex in Papua and West Papua, through a combination of prostitution, high levels of unaccompanied men moving around the provinces and the inhibition-busting affects of alcohol consumption.

Perceptions of HIV are dealt with too. Early on in the film, the three protagonists watch as an old man is driven away from their village. 'He has been cursed by God,' says a villager. The reality is that the man is being ostracized because he has HIV, attitudes that still prevail in the two provinces and the world over.

Shot amid the beautiful Papuan landscape, the film points to how a lack of education and teacher absenteeism in rural areas provide the backdrop for ignorance and myths of HIV to take root. There's worries about the virus being airborne, there's resistance to testing and to taking subscribed antiretroviral (ARV) drugs ' free in Indonesia ' that are required to suppress the virus. These drugs have hugely reduced the death rates and suffering of people living with HIV worldwide.

At the center of it all is the star-crossed relationship between Litius and the introverted Endah (Amyra Jessica), and their journey toward a truth ' terrible and unspeakable at first ' that will affect the rest of their lives.

The film is currently showing in cinemas across the country, but its success will depend less on cinema ratings than its ability to reach out to audiences that do not have access to the big screen. With the help of local governments, NGOs, schools and universities, there are plans to screen the film and host discussions in Jakarta, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, Papua and West Papua. All profits from the film in theatres will also be donated to Jayawijaya and other districts in Papua to help raise awareness.

Despite being released only this month, the film's Facebook page already has almost 5,000 likes and a Cinta Dari Wamena movement has even been started on the film's website (cintadariwamena.com), which is looking for volunteers to campaign on HIV/AIDS via social media.

However, reaching HIV-affected remote areas, particularly in West Papua and Papua, which have little access to technology, will be key if this film is to make serious inroads into complimenting the array of awareness raising work already being taken forward by local authorities, church groups and local and international NGOs in the two provinces.

The intention is to take the film to these areas, but in urban settings at least, the film looks set to get people talking about the HIV taboo.

Carrying a message of hope that there is life after HIV, the film should help to reduce stigma and resonate with audiences, just like the pangs of Litius' ukulele strings.

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