Indonesia loses its best film director

Indonesia loses its best film director

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia lost one of its best film directors
early yesterday morning.

Wim Umboh, who was also a film producer, died of a diabetes
complication and a light stroke at the Husada hospital. he was
62. He is survived by Inne Ermina Chomid, his third wife, and two
children.

"There were no last words. Just empty and long glances all the
time in the last few days," Inne told journalists at the artist's
home in the suburb of Depok.

Artists and public figures including Dewi Yul, Ray Sahetapy,
Rima Melati, Lidya Kandouw, Sophan Sophiaan and Deputy House
Speaker Soerjadi were present yesterday.

"I was with him all the time. He fervently refused an
operation suggested by the doctor," Inne said, unable to hold
back the tears.

Wim was first admitted to Cinere hospital Monday morning
before being transferred to Husada hospital in the afternoon.

"He seemed restless after sahur (predawn meal) on Monday.
Somehow I felt a foreboding. When I combed his hair, Papi
(father) Wim was more handsome than usual. Before my mother died,
she appeared extremely beautiful too," Inne said.

Wim directed 39 films since the 1950s, 10 of which grabbed the
prestigious Citra Award. He also introduced the Indonesian film
industry to new techniques such as cinemascope in Macan
Kemayoran, colored film Sembilan and 70 millimeter film Mama.

Successful

He was buried at the Jeruk Purut public cemetery in Kemang,
South Jakarta, yesterday afternoon.

"We have lost a great producer who successfully combined
commercial and artistic elements in his films," according to Putu
Wijaya, a noted playwright and theater director.

Teguh Karya, another leading film director, remembers vividly
Wim's enthusiasm and dedication to produce good films.

"We need to emulate Wim's enthusiasm, we'd probably need
twenty extra doses to beat Wim's enthusiasm to advance our movie
industry," Teguh said.

"New great directors will answer the needs and questions of
their time but there'll never be a second Wim," he added.

Film director Misbach Jusa Biran noted Wim's zest for life.

"When I saw him last week, even though he could not even light
his own cigarette, he said that he was perfectly fine," he said.

Another actor and film director, Slamet Rahardjo, lamented the
loss of Wim.

"There won't be a substitute after his death. We will only
inherit the lessons he left behind. The late Wim was an
innovator, always reaching for the light ahead," he said.

However Sophan Sophiaan, an actor and film director who was
groomed by Wim, noted the deceased's egotistical shortcomings.

"When he got angry and knew that he was wrong in front of the
public, he was less than likely to admit his fallacies and
preferred to leave instead. Only in private would he admit to his
unreasoned anger," he said. (14).

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