This book explores Indonesian cinema, focusing on moments of unique creativity by Indonesian film artists who illuminate important but less-widely-known aspects of their multi-dimensional society. It begins by exploring early 1950s ‘Indonesian neorealist films’ of the Perfini group, which depict the ethos and emerging moral issues of the period of struggle for independence (1945–49). It continues by discussing four audacious political allegories produced in four discrete political eras―including the Sukarno, Suharto and Reformasi periods. It also surveys the main approaches to Islam in both popular cinema and auteur films during the Suharto New Order. One chapter celebrates the popular songs and B-movies of the Betawi comedian, Benyamin S, which dramatize the experience of the poor in ‘modernizing’ Jakarta. Another examines persisting Third World dimensions of Indonesian society as critiqued in two experimental features. The concluding chapter highlights innovation in a renewed Indonesian cinema of the post-Suharto Reformasi period (1999–2020), including films by an unprecedented generation of women writer-directors
Author(s): David Hanan
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 375
City: Singapore
Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Figures
1 Introduction
References
2 Filming the ‘Struggle for the Nation’, and Its Aftermath: Early Films of Usmar Ismail and the Perfini Company 1950–1954
Historical Circumstances Depicted in Darah dan Do’a and Enam Djam di Jogja
Darah dan Do’a (‘The Long March’): Improvised Narrative with Social-Political and Moral Reflections
Commercial Release, Censorship and the Variant Versions of Darah dan Do’a
‘Humanity in the Revolution’: The Philosophical-Moral and Political Concerns Expressed in Darah dan Do’a
War and the Personal Life: ‘I am Not a Soldier’
Enam Djam di Jogja: An Alliance Between Government, the Army and the Pemuda in the Indonesian Revolution
Similarities Between the Early Perfini Films and Italian Neorealist Films
Social Conditions in the New Nation, and the Search for More Sophisticated Models of Narrative: Embun (1951) and Lewat Djam Malam (1954)
Achievements of the Perfini Group in the 1950s
References
3 A Tradition of Political Allegory and Political Satire in Indonesian Cinema 1955–2002
A Political Allegory in the Sukarno Period: Tamu Agung (‘Exalted Guest’, 1955)
The Period of Transition From Sukarno To Suharto: Matt Dower (1969)
The Suharto New Order Period: Langitku Rumahku (‘My Sky, My Home’, 1990)
The Early Reformasi Period: Aku Ingin Menciummu Sekali Saja (‘I Wish to Kiss You Once Only’, 2002)
References
4 Approaches to Islam in the Indonesian Cinema 1970s–1990s
Islam, Mysticism and Legend: Popular Cinema in the 1980s
Questions of Religious Belief in a Globalizing, Secular World: Sjuman Djaya’s Atheis (1974)
The Representation of Sufi Meditation and Other Forms of Religious Belief and Practice in the Film Atheis
Santri and Abangan in Atheis
‘Idea Forces’ in Opposition to Islam and to All Religions: Secularism, Atheistic Marxism and Anarchism
Islamic Beliefs as Motivator in the Film Atheis
The Influence of ‘Purifying’ Islamic Reform Movements From the Early Nineteenth Century Onwards
Islam, Developmentalism and Backwardness
Islam, Popular Music and Politics in the New Order
Nada dan Dakwah (‘A Song and a Sermon’, 1991)
Kantata Takwa (‘Cantata of Devotion’, 1990–2008).
References
5 Songs and Films of the Betawi Comedian, Benyamin S, in the 1970s: A Popular Culture of the Poor
Songs of Benyamin S: Gambang Moderen
The Duets with Ida Royani
A Wider View: Indonesia in an International Context
The Betawi Milieu and Social Change in 1970s Jakarta as Depicted in Films Starring Benyamin S
Ben’s Films, and Icons of International Popular Culture
Pre-Credit Sequence from Benyamin Koboi Ngungsi
References
6 Third World Experimental Narrative in Indonesian Film: Travelling the Centre–Periphery Axis 1979–1985
Slamet Rahardjo’s Rembulan dan Matahari (‘Moon and Sun’, 1979): From City to Village
Moral Ambiguity and the Re-Encounter with Local Traditions in Rembulan dan Matahari
Different Systems of Representation
A Warok of Ponorogo
The Social Context of the Village and the Roles Assigned to Men and Women
Spiritual Strength and Ways of Seeing
Teguh Karya’s Secangkir Kopi Pahit (‘Bitter Coffee’, 1985): From Village to City and Back Again
A Confronting Reality
Flashback Structure
Plot and Investigative Structure in Secangkir Kopi Pahit
The First Nodal Point: The Case of Sukarsih
‘Kenyataan’—The Pressure of Reality
Mapping the Paths of Indonesian Internal Migrants
Weaving in ‘Tradition’: The Second Nodal Point of the Film
Fade-Out: The Shame of Returning to One’s Origins
The Court and the Investigative Process
References
7 New Perspectives, Challenges and Questions from Filmmakers in the Post-Suharto Reformasi Era 1998–2020
Recent Scholarship on Indonesian Cinema
Remembering 1965: Puisi Tak Terkuburkan (‘Poetry Is Not Buried’, 1999)
The Emergence of Critical/Investigative Documentary
Testimonial Documentary: The Village Goat Takes the Beating (1999)
Observational Documentary: Lukas’ Moment (2004)
Films by Newly Emerging Women Writer-Directors
Nan Achnas—Nurturing in a Bleak Environment: Pasir Berbisik (2001) and Bendera (2002)
Nia Dinata—Social Critique and Sexual Satire: Berbagi Suami (2006) and Arisan! (2003)
Djenar Maesa Ayu—Hidden Dimensions of Hidden Lives: Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet (2008) and hUSh! (2016)
Lola Amaria—Social Realities for Female Indonesian Migrant Workers: Minggu Pagi di Victoria Park (2010)
Mouly Surya—Reality or Potent Fiction? Fiksi (2008) and Marlina Si Pembunuh Dalam Empat Babak (2017)
Kamila Andini—Young People in Traditional Societies: Sekala Niskala (2017)
The Miles Phenomenon
Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (‘What’s Up with Love?’, 2002)
Eliana Eliana (2002)
Laskar Pelangi (‘Rainbow Troops’, 2008)
Variant Sexualities in a Social Context: Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku (Garin Nugroho, 2018)
What Can We Speak About? and Can We Speak at All? The Science of Fictions (Yosep Anggi Noen, 2019)
Speaking About Climate Change: Semes7a (Chairun Nissa, 2020)
Concluding Remarks
References
Glossary
Index
