“Looking for Madonna” is quietly powerful film about the psychological battles that AIDS victims must fight instead of focusing on the sensational reactions of the people who come into contact with them.

This movie import from Indonesian filmmaker John de Rantu captures how the AIDS epidemic has affected modern-day Papua New Guinea. He makes a poignant statement by choosing to use teenage characters in his film, whose carefree lives are almost instantly changed by the adult realities brought on by this disease.

Originally released in Asia in 2005, the movie will have its official North American premiere on April 25. It will be presented by the San Francisco International Film Festival at the Kabuki 8 Theatres.

The film is centered around a pair of teenage lovers, Yoseph (Samuel Tunya) and Yolanda and their friend Minus (Minus C. Caroba), who also serves as narrator. In the beginning they are shown in pursuit of pleasure, skipping school and indulging in vices that reflect their precocious nature. Yet, they have to face the consequences of their actions much sooner than they realize.

It is later revealed that both of them have contracted full-blown AIDS, although it is not clear who gave it to whom. However, this seems to be the last thing on their minds, as they brainstorm on how they will tell their friends and family, while also dealing with the reality that young lives might possibly be cut short.

On Yoseph’s suggestion, Yolanda breaks the news to her family and the response is shocking. Her father, who is more concerned with their family honor than his daughter’s welfare, kills her. When Yoseph finds out, he is consumed by guilt and his already fragile psyche is put to the test.

After being shut out by most of his friends and family, except for Minus, he begins a journey that takes him through the periods of isolation, regret and finally redemption.

When Yoseph and Minus subsequently travel back to their home village to visit family, they hear stories of the prostitute Madonna (Clara Shinta), a wistfully beautiful woman who trades sexual favors for aloe tree wood. It is ironic that viewers never see her at work, because she always rejects suitors who do not bring her the “finest” tree wood.

Only later is it clear when she meets Yoseph for a rendezvous, that he was pressured into by some male friends, that he and Madonna share a bond that awakens in him a renewed optimism for life.

There are no overt sexual situations in the movie and the terror that is displayed in regards to the disease are mainly in Yoseph's own mind. The story of Madonna’s character is injected into the story between Yoseph and Minus’ journey back home. Some may wonder why the movie is named in reference to this character because the pivotal scene between her and Yoseph is very subtle and might be misunderstood or even missed entirely by some viewers.

The actor who plays Minus is a revelation, because of natural acting ability. He struts, laughs and displays thoughts like the camera is not even there. Although it was mentioned before that there is nothing obsene in the film, his attitude toward adult situations, such as being involved with two lovers at once and talking of visiting the village prostitute are definitely surprising.

The color in the film is lush, capturing the tropical landscape with a pensive beauty that matches the somber tone of the movie. The subtitles are a bit jarring because the translations are muddled. The ending is also very unexpected and in a way anticlimatic. But it is certainly a refreshing film, because it is unlike any AIDS movie that has come out so far or likely will come out for a long time.