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Author and filmmaker Richard Oh passes away at 62
Prominent Indonesian filmmaker and literary figure Richard Oh passed away at the age of 62 on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. in Eka Hospital BSD, South Tangerang.
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Renowned filmmaker: Richard Oh talks to the press during the promotional tour for his 2019 film 'Perburuan' on July 24, 2019. (Instagram/Courtesy of Richard Oh) (Instagram/Courtesy of Richard Oh)
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rominent Indonesian filmmaker and literary figure Richard Oh passed away at the age of 62 on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. in Eka Hospital BSD, South Tangerang.
"Innalillahi wainnaillaihi rajiun [We belong to God and to God we shall return]. Our brother and friend Abdurrahman bin Yong Masio (Richard Oh) has passed away and returned to Allah SWT," the message from his family read, as quoted by kompas.com.
Richard will reportedly be buried in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Friday.
Born on Oct. 30, 1959, in Tebingtinggi, North Sumatra, Richard was an established author and publisher in Indonesia’s literary scene. He wrote three books throughout his career: 1999’s The Pathfinders of Love, 2000’s Heart of the Night and 2004’s The Rainmaker's Daughter. Richard also cofounded the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa (previously named Khatulistiwa Literary Award) in 2000 to honor and acknowledge Indonesian writers.
Richard was a highly regarded figure in Indonesian cinema as an actor, director and screenwriter. He starred in numerous films such as Yowis Ben and 27 Steps of May. He made his directorial and screenwriting debut in the 2006 film Koper (Luggage), which was followed by the likes of Melancholy Is a Movement in 2015, Perburuan (The Hunt) in 2019 and more.
Condolences have poured in on social media from across the Indonesian film industry, literary world and general public upon the news of his death.
"Kokoh [brother], you are greatly missed," filmmaker Joko Anwar wrote on his Twitter account.
“Thank you for your contribution to the literary and film world,” filmmaker Gina S Noer also tweeted.
“Richard introduced me to many works of literature and made literature accessible for the public,” founder of Dia.lo.gue art space Engel Tanzil said to The Jakarta Post on Friday.
“Our last meeting was in the Pramoedya Ananta Toer exhibition I curated [in 2018]. He gave me a lot of important input, since he knew Pramoedya personally, and shared his knowledge of the literary and film world,” said Engel, who has known him since 1998.
For filmmaker Paul Agusta, who had been close friends with him for 13 years, Richard was “supportive and caring to so many people, especially filmmakers.”
“Every time I was down or starting to doubt my place as a filmmaker, even thinking about quitting film altogether, Koh Richard would light up my spirits and push me to keep going,” Paul shared to the Post.
“His critical, honest and constructive opinion was always brilliant and made me see angles or perspectives that I may have missed before,” he said. “The world is a much sadder and poorer place without Richard Oh.”
