Noted director Arifin C. Noer dies

Noted director Arifin C. Noer dies

JAKARTA (JP): Noted theater/movie director Arifin C. Noer died
yesterday at 54 years old, leaving behind an unfinished TV movie,
Bukan Perempuan Biasa, and much regret among Indonesians in the
film and theater communities.

Arifin died at 6:30 a.m. after six days of treatment for a
malfunctioning liver at Medistra Hospital in South Jakarta. He is
survived by his wife Jajang Pamontjak, 43, and four children.

"He died before he finished writing his book and this is a
great loss to us," said N. Riantiarno, director of Teater Koma,
at Arifin's burial yesterday afternoon.

Among those present were such poets and playwrights as Rendra
and Putu Wijaya, noted film critic Salim Said, director Slamet
Rahardjo and members of Indonesia's theater and film circles.

According to Riantiarno, Arifin had always wanted to write a
book to explain his thoughts on modern Indonesian theater.
Together with Rendra and Teguh Karya, Arifin was considered a
pioneer in modern Indonesian theater.

"It's just a pity he never even started. There may be others
who will write about him, but it won't be the same as having him
writing down his thoughts," said Riantiarno.

Born on March 10, 1941, in Cirebon, West Java, Arifin began
his career as a playwright. Finding difficulty in selling his
works, he set up his own theater group, Teater Kecil, 27 years
ago. Arifin once said that Teater Kecil only performed unique
works which he believed could bring changes to the world of
theater in Indonesia. He mentioned his famed 1970 work Kapai-
kapai, which has been performed in Dutch and in English in the
United States, as a good example.

"Indeed, he added his own touch to modern Indonesian theater.
He was also a master in literature and he gave us an
understanding of what literature is," said director Slamet
Rahardjo.

In 1972 Arifin began his film career as a screenwriter.
Through Pemberang he was declared best screenwriter in the 1972
Asian Film Festival. The following year he won the Citra award as
best screenwriter for Rio Anakku and another in 1978 for Melawan
Badai.

In 1977 Arifin began directing films and presented his first
film Suci Sang Primadona (Suci the Prima Donna). The film did not
earn him the coveted Citra award, but it did create a new star,
Joice Erna, who won a Citra for best actress. Suci was followed
by Petualangan-petualangan which was shelved a long time before
finally being screened.

Arifin was also noted for his controversial films Serangan
Fajar, which won the Best Film award in the 1982 Indonesian Film
Festival, and Pengkhianatan G 30 S/PKI, both funded by Perusahaan
Film Negara (PFN -- the state-owned Film Company).

Many still consider the latter a brilliant work, but there
were those who were disappointed with what they considered a
weakening in his idealism. Arifin was renowned for his concern
for the small people, a theme always well represented in his
works.

His other works were Harmonikaku (My Harmonica), Yuyun Pasien
Rumah Sakit Jiwa (Yuyun, A Mental Patient), Matahari-Matahari,
Senyum di Pagi Bulan Desember, Kugapai Cintamu, Kembang-Kembang
Plastik and Bibir Mer.

With the boom in sinetrons, or made-for-TV movies, that
accompanied the mushrooming of private television stations in
Indonesia in the 1980s, Teater Kecil joined the band by producing
what many considered "quality sinetron". They include Sebuah
Dongeng Cinta, Bulan dalam Baskom, and Tasi oh Tasi. The latest,
Keris (Kris), will soon be screened on Surya Cipta Televisi
(SCTV). (lem)