Christine Hakim shines with hard work

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"Because she is not a star, she is a true artist. A star shines only when there is a source of light, perhaps because of beauty, courage. But she (Christine) is shining because of her hard work, her concern, her dedication and because of her awareness of her work," theater figure Putu Wijaya said in praise of actress Christine Hakim's recent accomplishment.

Receiving the French government's Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres last week, Christine Hakim's name was raised to the same platform as famous Hollywood names, such as Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Alain Delon and Jeanne Moreau.

But typically her, Christine does not let a little glitter blind her. "For me, Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep, I am me, we all have our own lives in our different environments and we have different responsibilities and different goals," she said on the sidelines of the awards ceremony.

Even before her award, one could say that Christine was already "there" when she joined the few elite groups to judge the prestigious Cannes Film Festival last year. Times magazine recently even voted her an "Asian Hero".

In fact, aside from all the glitz, the 45-year-old woman was more concerned about the toll the responsibility of the awards would take on her and her private life.

"At this early stage of my marriage I want to give more to my family and my husband, but this award means that I need to do more work, which would take me away from home. That's how I feel about it," said Christine, who married Dutchman Jeroen Lezer in 2000.

"It doesn't mean that I can sleep easier now, my job has become much heavier."

Born Herlina Nathalie Christine Hakim on Dec. 25, 1957, in Kuala Tungkal, Lampung, Christine's acting career was first launched after she was spotted by director Teguh Karya in the early 1970s.

Her first movie by the noted director, Cinta Pertama (First Love), in 1973 won her the Citra Indonesian film award for best actress, even though she later admitted she had acted on "instinct".

But she hasn't always relied on her instincts. Instead, after her second movie Atheis (Atheist) -- also with Teguh Karya -- Christine realized that acting was a profession that required skill and technique.

"She really chooses her roles carefully. Before she played in Ponirah for example, she would study her role and even wear a kebaya all the time to get the feel of it several months prior to shooting. You don't see that kind of dedication (in new actresses) now," Putu Wijaya said, referring to Christine's 1984 movie Ponirah Terpidana (Convicted Ponirah).

Since Cinta Pertama, Christine has starred in more than 30 movies, playing strong women's roles such as the venerable Acehnese hero Tjoet Nja' Dhien in the 1988 movie of the same title.

Her choice of roles is based on the reflection that women have not been adequately represented in society. There are many heroic and strong women, Christine said, explaining that her concern in acting was how to avoid stereotyping them.

Lining up her various achievements, Christine has won six Citra awards, the Best Actress award at the Pusan Film Festival in Korea for the 1976 Pengemis dan Tukang Becak (The Beggar and the Pedicab Driver), Best Actress at the Singapore Film Festival for the 1983 Di Balik Kelambu (Behind the Curtain), Best Actress at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival for the 1976 Kawin Lari (Elope), an award at the Taipei Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival for the 1997 film Daun di Atas Bantal (Leaf on a Pillow), which she produced.

Christine's hard work was also recognized internationally with an Art Award from the Indonesian government in 1990, the Yamamoto Yasue Award from Japan in 1997, the Jawaharlal Nehru Award from the Indian government in 1997, and the seventh Nikkei Asia Prize winner for the cultural category from Japan in 2002.

From the French government, the Commandeur award was the second time Christine had received such a high honor. In 1991 the French government awarded her the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

"From then on your work in the arts and social services, as well as your position in the film industry achieved greater acknowledgement, and you have become the brightest star in the film galaxy," French Ambassador in Jakarta Renaud Vignal said in his speech at the ceremony.

In 1995, she even had her own Retrospect Week for her movies in Tokyo.

"We have all seen how hard she works, she's never stopped promoting Indonesian films, she deserves the award and I am very proud of her," said one of Christine's best friends, actress Rima Melati, who attended the award ceremony.

Besides being a jury member in various international film festivals -- among others at the Southeast Asia Bienalle Film Festival in Cambodia in 1997, the Pusan Film Festival in 1999, and more recently at the 55th Cannes Film Festival -- Christine has also been active in two social organizations.

"Your work in humanities through your two organizations, an aid organization for street children and a training organization for Indonesian youths with an interest in the film industry, have been exceptional," Vignal said, commenting on her Christine Hakim Foundation.

"It never crossed my mind that what I've been doing would be acknowledged and given such a high honor from the French government. All along I was thinking that I have to work and continue working and work better in the hope, of course, that what I'm doing would be of use to society or to Indonesia," Christine said.