ORF-E
German, English
1 x 45 mins, 1 x 52 mins
Available worldwide except for Germany, France and The People’s Republic of China

With their extensive jungles, turquoise seas and pristine white beaches, the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali have long been considered among the world’s most interesting and beautiful tropical islands. Millions of national and international tourists visit the islands every year – yet remain largely unaware of the powerful natural forces at work behind the scenes. This documentary takes the viewer on an awe-inspiring journey into the hearts of Java and Bali, where volcanos and earthquakes are a constant threat and where rare creatures, many of them the last of their kind, fight for survival. Among the animal protagonists are reticent Javan leopards, charismatic gibbons, majestic deer, endemic eagles and prehistoric-looking hornbills. The leopards are the archipelago’s last great hunters, roaming dense rainforests, hidden coastal regions and across the peaks of active volcanos. The distinctive hornbills, on the other hand, prefer to glide on the safe side, drifting down steep slopes to reach the forests nestled at the bottom of extinct craters. Above the villages and rice paddies established by humans, hungry pairs of peregrine falcons hunt among swarms of bats. Life here can be idyllic – or fraught with danger. The ever-present risk of natural disaster is now compounded by the threats of climate change and rampant tourism, and the islands’ last remaining refuges are under threat. In “Paradise under Pressure – Java and Bali”, director Patrick Centurioni explores the stunning beauty and constant battles for survival that define perhaps the world’s best-known tropical holiday destinations.