Tino Saroengallo (Tribunnews/Dany Permana)

Renowned Indonesian film producer, actor, writer and director Tino Saroengallo died on Friday at the age of 60 after losing a two-year battle with prostate cancer, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in film.

Touted by his peers and the film industry as a “modern legend of cinema”, Tino was responsible for the production of various films both in the past and in present times.

Tino played a crucial production role on some of Indonesia’s most lasting films, including 2001’s Pasir Berbisik (Whispering Sands), 2002’s Ca bau Kan, 2011’s Sang Penari (The Dancer) and 2013’s The Philosophers.

Aside from producing, he had small acting roles in notable films such as 2001 kids film Petualangan Sherina (Sherina’s Adventure), 2003’s Arisan!, 2007 comedy Quickie Express and most recently in 2017 thriller film Night Bus, which won the award for Best Film at the Indonesian Film Festival Awards in 2017.

Tino also served as head production manager for the Indonesian scenes of 2010 Hollywood film Eat, Pray, Love, based on the book by Elizabeth Gilbert and starring Julia Roberts; and Michael Mann’s action thriller Blackhat (2015), starring Chris Hemsworth.

On a larger scale, he was instrumental as a director in bringing documentaries to the mass market: a genre of film that very rarely gets any cinema screen time in Indonesia.

His 2002 political short documentary, Student Movement in Indonesia: They Forced Them to be Violent, was the first Indonesian documentary to have ever been screened on a commercial scale
in cinemas.

Documenting the student uprising that took place in May 1998, which resulted in events such as the killing of four student activists by the security forces, widespread looting and attacks on ethnic Chinese citizens, and eventually the fall of former president Soeharto, Tino once elaborated on why he felt compelled to make such a documentary.

“I was a fixer for a German TV crew who covered the riots,” he elaborated during a 2016 interview with Philippines-based journal Rappler.

“And during that job, I realized myself that for 32 years, the government lied to me. They said the military would protect its citizens at any cost, and what I saw [in those months in 1998] were far from the truth. My instincts were to simply record what I saw.”

The short documentary itself was groundbreaking as it offered a first-person first-hand look at what went on in the streets of Jakarta at the time. It won him the Best Short Film award at the 2002 Asia Pacific Film Festival in Seoul, and also Best Documentary Feature at the 2004 Indonesian Film Festival Awards.

He followed it up with a sequel called Setelah 15 Tahun (After 15 Years) in 2013, which aimed to provide an update on what kind of governmental changes had taken place after Soeharto’s fall. But in the man’s eyes, it seemed that nothing had changed. “Reform has failed. Reform failed long before the start of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s reign [2004],”
Tino said.

Tino’s political documentary inspired other filmmakers to follow in his footsteps and create their own political documentaries mirroring their time.

One person inspired by Tino’s work was director Dandhy Dwi Laksono, who created the 2014 documentary Yang Ketu7uh, which documented the ugly lead up to the 2014 Indonesian elections and highlighted how easy it was to divide Indonesian society.  

His passing was marked by condolences and tributes from figures in the film industry.

“Rest in Peace Bang Tino Saroengallo, I’m glad that we worked together before on Realita Cinta Rock N Roll,” tweeted director Upi Avianto, referring to Tino’s supporting role in her 2007 comedy film.

Director Joko Anwar underlined the fact that Tino was the father of modern Indonesian film, as many figures in the industry looked up to or were mentored by the man.

“Tino was everyone’s teacher. Many Indonesian film figures learned a lot from him. He taught us a lot, especially about how to produce well,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

“He once said to me that if you want to make a film, make it an honest, sincere one. And he was right. You have to be sincere and honest in making a film because the purpose is always to convey something rather than doing it just for the fame or the money,” he added.

Tino will be interred at Tanah Kusir cemetery in South Jakarta.

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