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History on silver screen from time to time

History repeats itself, and so do trends

The Jakarta Post
Sun, July 12, 2015

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History on silver screen from time to time

History repeats itself, and so do trends.

Film observer Budi Irawanto points out that the upsurge in history-themed films in the past five years has also been seen in previous periods of the film industry as an alternative to erotic horror flicks.

This time, however, most of the films have been funded either by major film producers, social organizations, crowd-sourcing or governmental institutions, and based on the country'€™s founding fathers or important persons.

'€œThis phenomenon can be read as an enthusiasm to popularly re-introduce the person and their contribution to the nation to young people, who are cinema'€™s largest demographic group'€ said Budi.

The downside of it, according to Leila S. Chudori, is that, in their efforts not to outshine their milestone achievements, the films fail to portray the weaknesses of a person.

'€œI understand that Habibie & Ainun is more of a love story, but it did not even mention anything about Habibie'€™s ministerial career and the banning of Tempo during his presidential stint.'€

Leila later interviewed the writing team who acknowledged they had to resubmit drafts 23 times to get a nod for production from BJ Habibie, who wrote a memoir about his late wife.

'€œFilmmakers must find new approaches in making biopics that do not sacrifice the logic of the story,'€ she added.

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Classical war film period


According to Budi, the films in this era revolved around the revolution against colonialism and Indonesian independence and the ideal of the nation. While the settings are in accordance with history, the plot and characters are fictional.

Films included in the era are:

- Darah dan Doa (The Long March) by Usmar Ismail (1950)

- Enam Djam di Djogja (Six Hours in Yogyakarta) by Usmar Ismail (1951)

- Lewat Djam Malam (After the Curfew) by Usmar Ismail (1954)

- Turang (Bloodline) by Bachtiar Siagian (1957)

- Pagar Kawat Berduri (Barbwire Fence) by Asrul Sani (1961)

New Order history film period

The main themes used in history films during this period are the March 1, 1949 attacks led by a young Soeharto, the foiled coup attempt on September 30, 1965 and the Letter of March 11, 1966, or the Order of March the Eleventh (Supersemar) in which Sukarno wrote his famous letter commanding Soeharto to take all necessary measures to restore security in the country.

The films included in the era are:

- Janur Kuning (Yellow Coconut Leaves) by Alam Rengga Surawijaya (1979)

- November 1828 by Teguh Karya (1979)

- Kartini by Sjumandjaja (1981)

- Serangan Fajar (The Dawn Raid) by Arifin C. Noer (1982)

- Penumpasan Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI (The Abolition of G30S/PKI Coup) by Arifin C. Noer (1982)

- Naga Bonar by MT Riyaf, co-writer Asrul Sani (1987)

- Tjut Nja'€™ Dhien by Eros Djarot (1988)

After Reformasi, the rise of the biopic


- Gie by Riri Riza (2005)

- Sang Pencerah (The Englightener) by Hanung Bramantyo (2010)

- Soegija by Garin Nugroho (2012)

2013

- Sang Kiai by Rako Prijanto

- Sukarno by Hanung Bramantyo

- Ketika Bung di Ende (While You'€™re in Ende) by Viva Westi

2015

- Guru Bangsa Tjokroaminoto (Tjokroaminoto, Father of the Nation) by Garin Nugroho

- Tiga Napas Likas (Likas'€™ Three Breaths) by Rako Prijanto

- Jenderal Soedirman by Viva Westi

- Athirah by Riri Riza

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