Christine Hakim shines with hard work

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.