Christine Hakim makes her TV series debut<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Christine Hakim is back. The internationally-
\nacclaimed actress, who has been absent from the Indonesian film
\nindustry for a decade, will return to the screen next month when
\nshe appears in a new TV series.<\/p>\n
Christine is the leading character in Bukan Perempuan Biasa
\n(No Ordinary Woman), scheduled to be aired on Rajawali Citra
\nTelevisi Indonesia (RCTI), starting July 7.<\/p>\n
\"I have a moral responsibility to do something within this
\nsluggish national film industry,\" Christine, 40, said.<\/p>\n
The national film industry is slow indeed. Two decades ago,
\nIndonesia produced an average of more than 100 films a year. Last
\nyear saw an output of 30 films, most loaded with sex and
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
Christine was last seen in Eros Djarot's Tjoet Nyak Dien
\n(1987-1989). In 1995 she had a role in the Japanese film Nemuru
\nOtoko (A Man of Sleep), directed by Kohei Oguri.<\/p>\n
The 10-episode Bukan Perempuan Biasa is directed by Jajang C.
\nNoer, 42, the widow of prominent theater\/film director Arifin C.
\nNoer. Arifin wrote the story as a tribute to women, especially
\nhis mother. Arifin died in May l995 before he could finish
\nwriting the film script. The last three episodes were written by
\nArswendo Atmowiloto.<\/p>\n
Bukan Perempuan Biasa is the latest quality TV series produced
\nhere. Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI) recently aired a
\ntrilogy from renowned directors Garin Nugroho, Slamet Rahardjo
\nand Teguh Karya. They were Angin Rumput Savana (The Wind in the
\nSavannah) by Garin, Oh Ayah Oh Ibu Selamat Pagi (Good Morning,
\nMom and Dad) by Slamet and Perkawinan Siti Zubaedah (Siti
\nZubaedah's Marriage) by Teguh. Unlike Bukan Perempuan Biasa,
\neach of the three films lasted only about an hour.<\/p>\n
Bukan Perempuan Biasa originally bore the title Lima Lelaki
\nMabuk (Five Drunken Men). It is the story about Menul (played by
\nChristine Hakim), who has to marry a man chosen by her father.
\nShe escapes from her village, but is gang-raped by five drunken
\nmen. She falls pregnant and has a baby.<\/p>\n
Menul leads her new life as a single parent and becomes a
\nmasseuse to make a living. Everything seems to go just fine until
\n20 years later. The child, Sri, has turned into a beautiful woman
\nand will soon graduate from university. The problems start to
\narise when Sri (played by Desy Ratnasari) begins to question her
\npast. Menul again feels the pain of her old wounds and decides to
\nfind the rapists. She has to find the real father of her
\ndaughter. The story does not end at that point. Menul is facing a
\ndilemma: whether to kill him or to forgive him.<\/p>\n
Christine said at the launching of the film recently that even
\nthough there are rape scenes in the film, it is not violent.<\/p>\n
\"That is the most polite rape scene I've ever known,\"
\nChristine said.<\/p>\n
\"It was like a pinch.\"<\/p>\n
Although Bukan Perempuan Biasa is Christine's first TV series
\neverybody knows who she is. Indeed, she is no ordinary woman. She
\nbegan her acting career with Teguh Karya's Cinta Pertama (First
\nLove) in 1973. She has appeared in 21 national films and won six
\nCitra awards for best actress and three Asian Film Festival
\nawards. In 1990 she won two tokens of merit in the arts from the
\nIndonesian government and from the French government.<\/p>\n
She was actively involved in various regional film festivals,
\nas a member of the delegation or jury. She was head of the
\ninternational jury for the first Southeast Asian Biennial Film
\nFestival in Cambodia in March.<\/p>\n
Dessy Ratnasari, 24, might not be as famous as Christine but
\nshe is the idol of many teenagers in Indonesia. Dessy, the 1988
\nCover Girl, started her career in modeling. She later appeared in
\nseveral TV series, including Jendela Rumah Kita (The Window of
\nOur House), Sengsara Membawa Nikmat, (Misery Brings Happiness)
\nand Anakku Terlahir Kembali (My Baby Is Reborn). Dessy is also a
\nfamous singer. She received the HDX Award for her Tenda Biru
\n(Blue Tent), the best selling song for 1995-1996.<\/p>\n
The shooting of Bukan Perempuan Biasa took place in Central
\nJava and Dessy, who is Sundanese, had to act as a Javanese girl.<\/p>\n
\"I had no problem talking with a Javanese accent. There are
\nmany Javanese people here in Jakarta,\" said Dessy, who was born
\nin Sukabumi, West Java.<\/p>\n
Dessy admitted that she benefited from playing along with
\nChristine.<\/p>\n
\"I learned a lot from Ibu,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The film has brought them closer together. Dessy calls
\nChristine ibu not only in the film but also in real life.<\/p>\n
\"I consider her my own mother,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She thanked Christine for encouraging her to develop her
\ntalent in the film.<\/p>\n
\"She said I am still young and that I still have much
\npotential to develop,\" Dessy said.<\/p>\n
\"I always try to do my best and if you ask in which sinetron I
\ndid best, the answer depends on you, the audience. It's you who
\njudge my acting.\"<\/p>\n
As for Christine, she said: \"I expect a reaction, which I will
\nuse as a basis for my next steps.\" (sim)<\/p>",
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