Christine Hakim makes her TV series debut

JAKARTA (JP): Christine Hakim is back. The internationally- acclaimed actress, who has been absent from the Indonesian film industry for a decade, will return to the screen next month when she appears in a new TV series.

Christine is the leading character in Bukan Perempuan Biasa (No Ordinary Woman), scheduled to be aired on Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia (RCTI), starting July 7.

"I have a moral responsibility to do something within this sluggish national film industry," Christine, 40, said.

The national film industry is slow indeed. Two decades ago, Indonesia produced an average of more than 100 films a year. Last year saw an output of 30 films, most loaded with sex and violence.

Christine was last seen in Eros Djarot's Tjoet Nyak Dien (1987-1989). In 1995 she had a role in the Japanese film Nemuru Otoko (A Man of Sleep), directed by Kohei Oguri.

The 10-episode Bukan Perempuan Biasa is directed by Jajang C. Noer, 42, the widow of prominent theater/film director Arifin C. Noer. Arifin wrote the story as a tribute to women, especially his mother. Arifin died in May l995 before he could finish writing the film script. The last three episodes were written by Arswendo Atmowiloto.

Bukan Perempuan Biasa is the latest quality TV series produced here. Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI) recently aired a trilogy from renowned directors Garin Nugroho, Slamet Rahardjo and Teguh Karya. They were Angin Rumput Savana (The Wind in the Savannah) by Garin, Oh Ayah Oh Ibu Selamat Pagi (Good Morning, Mom and Dad) by Slamet and Perkawinan Siti Zubaedah (Siti Zubaedah's Marriage) by Teguh. Unlike Bukan Perempuan Biasa, each of the three films lasted only about an hour.

Bukan Perempuan Biasa originally bore the title Lima Lelaki Mabuk (Five Drunken Men). It is the story about Menul (played by Christine Hakim), who has to marry a man chosen by her father. She escapes from her village, but is gang-raped by five drunken men. She falls pregnant and has a baby.

Menul leads her new life as a single parent and becomes a masseuse to make a living. Everything seems to go just fine until 20 years later. The child, Sri, has turned into a beautiful woman and will soon graduate from university. The problems start to arise when Sri (played by Desy Ratnasari) begins to question her past. Menul again feels the pain of her old wounds and decides to find the rapists. She has to find the real father of her daughter. The story does not end at that point. Menul is facing a dilemma: whether to kill him or to forgive him.

Christine said at the launching of the film recently that even though there are rape scenes in the film, it is not violent.

"That is the most polite rape scene I've ever known," Christine said.

"It was like a pinch."

Although Bukan Perempuan Biasa is Christine's first TV series everybody knows who she is. Indeed, she is no ordinary woman. She began her acting career with Teguh Karya's Cinta Pertama (First Love) in 1973. She has appeared in 21 national films and won six Citra awards for best actress and three Asian Film Festival awards. In 1990 she won two tokens of merit in the arts from the Indonesian government and from the French government.

She was actively involved in various regional film festivals, as a member of the delegation or jury. She was head of the international jury for the first Southeast Asian Biennial Film Festival in Cambodia in March.

Dessy Ratnasari, 24, might not be as famous as Christine but she is the idol of many teenagers in Indonesia. Dessy, the 1988 Cover Girl, started her career in modeling. She later appeared in several TV series, including Jendela Rumah Kita (The Window of Our House), Sengsara Membawa Nikmat, (Misery Brings Happiness) and Anakku Terlahir Kembali (My Baby Is Reborn). Dessy is also a famous singer. She received the HDX Award for her Tenda Biru (Blue Tent), the best selling song for 1995-1996.

The shooting of Bukan Perempuan Biasa took place in Central Java and Dessy, who is Sundanese, had to act as a Javanese girl.

"I had no problem talking with a Javanese accent. There are many Javanese people here in Jakarta," said Dessy, who was born in Sukabumi, West Java.

Dessy admitted that she benefited from playing along with Christine.

"I learned a lot from Ibu," she said.

The film has brought them closer together. Dessy calls Christine ibu not only in the film but also in real life.

"I consider her my own mother," she said.

She thanked Christine for encouraging her to develop her talent in the film.

"She said I am still young and that I still have much potential to develop," Dessy said.

"I always try to do my best and if you ask in which sinetron I did best, the answer depends on you, the audience. It's you who judge my acting."

As for Christine, she said: "I expect a reaction, which I will use as a basis for my next steps." (sim)