Noted director Arifin C. Noer dies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Noted theater\/movie director Arifin C. Noer died
\nyesterday at 54 years old, leaving behind an unfinished TV movie,
\nBukan Perempuan Biasa, and much regret among Indonesians in the
\nfilm and theater communities.<\/p>\n
Arifin died at 6:30 a.m. after six days of treatment for a
\nmalfunctioning liver at Medistra Hospital in South Jakarta. He is
\nsurvived by his wife Jajang Pamontjak, 43, and four children.<\/p>\n
\"He died before he finished writing his book and this is a
\ngreat loss to us,\" said N. Riantiarno, director of Teater Koma,
\nat Arifin's burial yesterday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Among those present were such poets and playwrights as Rendra
\nand Putu Wijaya, noted film critic Salim Said, director Slamet
\nRahardjo and members of Indonesia's theater and film circles.<\/p>\n
According to Riantiarno, Arifin had always wanted to write a
\nbook to explain his thoughts on modern Indonesian theater.
\nTogether with Rendra and Teguh Karya, Arifin was considered a
\npioneer in modern Indonesian theater.<\/p>\n
\"It's just a pity he never even started. There may be others
\nwho will write about him, but it won't be the same as having him
\nwriting down his thoughts,\" said Riantiarno.<\/p>\n
Born on March 10, 1941, in Cirebon, West Java, Arifin began
\nhis career as a playwright. Finding difficulty in selling his
\nworks, he set up his own theater group, Teater Kecil, 27 years
\nago. Arifin once said that Teater Kecil only performed unique
\nworks which he believed could bring changes to the world of
\ntheater in Indonesia. He mentioned his famed 1970 work Kapai-
\nkapai, which has been performed in Dutch and in English in the
\nUnited States, as a good example.<\/p>\n
\"Indeed, he added his own touch to modern Indonesian theater.
\nHe was also a master in literature and he gave us an
\nunderstanding of what literature is,\" said director Slamet
\nRahardjo.<\/p>\n
In 1972 Arifin began his film career as a screenwriter.
\nThrough Pemberang he was declared best screenwriter in the 1972
\nAsian Film Festival. The following year he won the Citra award as
\nbest screenwriter for Rio Anakku and another in 1978 for Melawan
\nBadai.<\/p>\n
In 1977 Arifin began directing films and presented his first
\nfilm Suci Sang Primadona (Suci the Prima Donna). The film did not
\nearn him the coveted Citra award, but it did create a new star,
\nJoice Erna, who won a Citra for best actress. Suci was followed
\nby Petualangan-petualangan which was shelved a long time before
\nfinally being screened.<\/p>\n
Arifin was also noted for his controversial films Serangan
\nFajar, which won the Best Film award in the 1982 Indonesian Film
\nFestival, and Pengkhianatan G 30 S\/PKI, both funded by Perusahaan
\nFilm Negara (PFN -- the state-owned Film Company).<\/p>\n
Many still consider the latter a brilliant work, but there
\nwere those who were disappointed with what they considered a
\nweakening in his idealism. Arifin was renowned for his concern
\nfor the small people, a theme always well represented in his
\nworks.<\/p>\n
His other works were Harmonikaku (My Harmonica), Yuyun Pasien
\nRumah Sakit Jiwa (Yuyun, A Mental Patient), Matahari-Matahari,
\nSenyum di Pagi Bulan Desember, Kugapai Cintamu, Kembang-Kembang
\nPlastik and Bibir Mer.<\/p>\n
With the boom in sinetrons, or made-for-TV movies, that
\naccompanied the mushrooming of private television stations in
\nIndonesia in the 1980s, Teater Kecil joined the band by producing
\nwhat many considered \"quality sinetron\". They include Sebuah
\nDongeng Cinta, Bulan dalam Baskom, and Tasi oh Tasi. The latest,
\nKeris (Kris), will soon be screened on Surya Cipta Televisi
\n(SCTV). (lem)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/noted-director-arifin-c-noer-dies-1447893297",
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