Cinema of Indonesia

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Southeast Asian cinema

Though the cinema of Indonesia has a long history, the industry is struggling and developing.

Contents

History [edit]

Colonial era [edit]

Former cinema Megaria (ca. 1960-80), today Cinema Metropole XXI.

The first film made in Indonesia was the 1926 silent film, Loetoeng Kasaroeng, by Dutch directors G. Kruger and L. Heuveldorp. It was made with local actors by the NV Java Film Company in Bandung and premiered on December 31, 1926 at the Elite and Majestic Theatres in Bandung.[1] Since then, more than 2,200 feature films have been produced.

Two feature films, Pareh (1936) and Terang Boelan (1937), have been nominated as Indonesia's most important films of the 1930s.[2]

After its genesis during the Dutch colonial era, the Indonesian film industry was coopted by the Japanese occupiers during the Second World War as a propaganda tool. The first thing the Japanese did was to halt all film production in Indonesia. Then the Office of Cultural Enlightenment (啓民文化指導所) headed by Ishimoto Tokichi appropriated facilities from all filmmaking organizations consolidating them into a single studio which became the Jakarta branch of the The Japan Film Corporation (日本映画社) or Nichi'ei.[3] The majority of films made in Indonesia under the Japanese were educational films and newsreels produced for audiences in Japan. The Jakarta branch was strategically placed at the extreme southern end of Japan's empire and soon became a center of newsreel production in that region. Popular news serials such as News from the South and Berita Film di Djawa were produced here. Japanese newsreels promoted such topics as conscripted "romusha" laborers (ロムシャの生活, 1944), voluntary enlistment into the imperial Japanese Army (南の願望, 1944), and Japanese language acquisition by Indonesian children (ニッポン語競技会, 1944).[4]

The great victory in Japan's occupation of the Indonesian film industry did not lie in financial gain. Local Japanese-sponsored film production (other than newsreels) remained essentially negligible and the domestic exhibition market was too underdeveloped to be financially viable. However, Nichi'ei's occupation of the Indonesian film industry was a strategic victory over the West, demonstrating that a non-Western Asian nation could displace Hollywood and the Dutch. Indonesia was one of the last areas in the empire to surrender and many who worked at Nichi'ei stayed on after defeat to work for Indonesian independence from the Dutch.[4]

Korean director Hae Yeong (aka Hinatsu Eitaro) was one such person who migrated to Java from Korea in 1945 where he made the controversial "documentary" Calling Australia (豪州の呼び声, 1944). After the war, Hae changed his name to Dr. Huyung, married an Indonesian woman with whom he had two sons, and directed three films before his death in 1952, Between Sky and Earth (1951), Gladis Olah Raga (1951), and Bunga Rumar Makan (1952). Calling Australia was commissioned by the Imperial Japanese Army and depicted Japanese prisoner of war camps as if they were country clubs showing prisoners feasting on steak and beer, swimming, and playing sports. After the war, the film caused such a stir that The Netherlands Indies Film Unit rushed into production Nippon Presents which used some of the P.O.W.s from Calling Australia to expose that film as Japanese lies. In 1987, Australian filmmaker Graham Shirley assembled the remaining survivors to make yet another documentary about how both regimes had conspired to exploit the prisoners each for their own purposes.[4]

After independence [edit]

After independence, the Sukarno government used it for nationalistic, anti-Western purposes. Foreign film imports were banned. After the overthrow of Sukarno by Suharto's New Order regime, films were regulated through a censorship code that aimed to maintain the social order.[5] Usmar Ismail, a director from West Sumatra made a major imprint in Indonesian film in the 1950s and 1960s.

1980s [edit]

The industry reached its peak in the 1980s, with such successful films as Naga Bonar (1987) and Catatan Si Boy (1989). Warkop's comedy films, directed by Arizal also proved to be successful. The industry has also found appeal among teens with such fare as Pintar-pintar Bodoh (1982), and Maju Kena Mundur Kena (1984). Actors during this era included Deddy Mizwar, Eva Arnaz, Lidya Kandou, Onky Alexander, Meriam Bellina, Rano Karno, and Paramitha Rusady.[6] The film Tjoet Nja' Dhien (1988) winning 9 Citra Awards at the 1988 Indonesian Film Festival.[7] It was also the first Indonesian movie chosen for screening at the Cannes Film Festival,[7] where it was awarded Best International Film in 1989.[8]

1990s [edit]

However, by the 1990s imports of foreign films resumed, and the artistic quality of Indonesian films was reduced due to competition, especially from the US and Hong Kong. The number of movies produced decreased significantly, from 115 movies in 1990 to just 37 in 1993.[9] Rampant counterfeiting and television also contributed to the degradation of Indonesian cinema. In decade, Indonesian cinema dominated by serial electronic cinema (sinetron). Multivision Plus under Raam Punjabi, controlled one of many cinema companies who produced sinetron. The majority of films produced were exploitive, adult-themed B-movies shown in budget cinemas and outdoor screenings or direct-to-video or television.[6] In 1996, 33 films were made in Indonesia, with majority of the films produced were filled with adult-themed content, and later on decreased significantly. Only seven domestic films were made in 1999.

2000s [edit]

Under the Reformasi movement of the post-Suharto era, independent filmmaking was a rebirth of the filming industry in Indonesia, where film's started addressing topics which were previously banned such as; religion, race, love and other topics[5]

In 2002, the domestic films made increased from only 6 in 2000 and 2001, to 10 films, and as the years passed on, the domestic films made increased significantly.

Recent notable films include What's Up with Love? directed by Rudi Soedjarwo in 2002, Eliana Eliana, directed by Riri Riza, and Arisan! starring Tora Sudiro, which was released in 2005, Beauty and Warrior, Indonesia's first animated feature film was released. That same year Gie (dir. Riri Riza), based on a biopic of Indonesian activist Soe Hok Gie, was also released.

The release of Ayat-ayat Cinta (Verses of Love), directed by Hanung Bramantyo, attracted one segment of audience like never before in the Indonesian Filming. The melodramatic story did not give new approaches to cinematic storytelling but the crossover between Islam and modern-romance story has succeeded in getting Muslim's around the country to lure the cinemas.[10]

In 2009, Infinite FrameWorks released their first full-length animation movie, Sing to the Dawn ("Meraih Mimpi" in Indonesian). The movie itself is almost Indonesian-made since some of top members are foreigners. However, all artists and dubbers are Indonesian and most of the dubbers are top celebrities (like Gita Gutawa, Surya Saputra, Patton, etc.).

2010s [edit]

In 2010-2011, due to the substantial increase in tax applied to foreign films cinemas no longer have access to any foreign films, including prominent films that are highlighted during the years Oscar Winning films. Foreign films include major box offices from western, European and other major film industries of the world. This has caused a massive ripple effect on the country's economy. It would be assumed that this event would increase purchases of pirated DVDs. However, even pirated DVDs now take a much longer time requirement to obtain the demanded foreign films making the standard cost to have access to foreign films a min of 1 million Rupiah. This is equivalent to US$100, as it includes a plane ticket to Singapore.[11]

The Indonesian film market is in the C, D, E classes, and due to this, foreign porn stars such as Sasha Grey, Maria Ozawa, Sora Aoi, and Rin Sakuragi have been invited to play a part in movies. Most locally made movies are low-budget horror films and most of them were regarded as unsuccessful, albeit only a few have had sequels.[12]

Indonesian film quality back up in 2012, this is attested by the publication of international quality films such as The Raid: Redemption, Modus Anomali, Dilema, Lovely Man, 5 cm, Java Heat, etc.

Film festivals [edit]

The major film festival of Indonesia is the Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest) held every year in December since 1998. The eighth festival began on December 8, 2006 with Babel, a film starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. The 9th JiFFest was held on December 7–16, 2007.

Jakarta also hosted film festivals such as the 52nd Asia-Pacific Film Festival(APFF) on November 18–22, 2008

Another event is the Indonesian Film Festival (Festival Film Indonesia/FFI), which has been held intermittently since 1955. From 1973 to 1992, the festival was held annually and then discontinued until it was later revived in 2004. It hosts a competition, which hands out the Citra Award.

Notable films [edit]

Graph of feature film production in Indonesia, 1926 to 2012

Actors [edit]

Jajang C. Noer and Nia Dinata in Hawaii International Film Festival 2006

Notable actors include:

Directors [edit]

Nurman Hakim (left) and Nan Achnas (right) during Vesoul international film festival of Asian cinema, 2009

Notable film directors include:

Movie theaters [edit]

The largest movie theater chain in Indonesia is 21 Cineplex, which has cinemas spread throughout twenty-four cities on the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Bali and Sulawesi. However, many smaller independent cinemas also exist. Another movie theater chain is the recently-opened Blitzmegaplex, which opened its first location in 2006 and have continued to expand each year, operating 7 locations as of mid-2011. Their flagship cineplex, the Blitz Megaplex Grand Indonesia in Jakarta, is dubbed Indonesia's largest cineplex by the MURI (Indonesian Record Museum).

Bibliography [edit]

  • A to Z about Indonesian Film, Ekky Imanjaya (Bandung: Mizan, 2006).
  • Katalog Film Indonesia 1926-2005, JB Kristanto (Jakarta: Nalar, 2006). ISBN 978-979-99395-3-1

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Robertson, Patrick (September 1993). The Guinness Book of Movie Facts & Feats. Abbeville Press. ISBN 978-1-55859-697-9. 
  2. ^ Heider, Karl G. (1991). Indonesian Cinema: National Culture on Screen. U of Hawaii P. p. 15. ISBN 9780824813673. Retrieved 23 July 2012. 
  3. ^ Baskett, Michael (2008). The Attractive Empire: Transnational Film Culture in Imperial Japan. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-3223-0. 
  4. ^ a b c Baskett, The Attractive Empire.
  5. ^ a b Sen, Krishna; Giecko, Anne Tereska (editor) (2006). Contemporary Asian Cinema, Indonesia: Screening a Nation in the Post-New Order. Oxford/New York: Berg. pp. 96–107. ISBN 978-1-84520-237-8. 
  6. ^ a b Kompas
  7. ^ a b Monash 2007-08-03, Tjoet Nja' Dhien.
  8. ^ Siapno 2006, p. 25.
  9. ^ Kondisi Perfilman di Indonesia
  10. ^ KOMPAS Cetak : Pertemuan Baru Islam dan Cinta
  11. ^ http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/indonesia/new-import-policy-will-kill-indonesian-film-industry-noorca/423632
  12. ^ A Winning Film Formula in Indonesia — Porn Stars, Clad http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/world/asia/29indonesia.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

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