D. Djajakusuma
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Djadoeg Djajakusuma (; 1 August 1918 – 28 October 1987) was an Indonesian film director and promoter of traditional art forms. Born to a nobleman and his wife in
Temanggung Temanggung Regency ( id, Kabupaten Temanggung) is a regency in the Central Java Province of Indonesia. It covers a land area of 870.65 km2 and had a population of 708,546 at the 2010 Census and 790,174 at the 2020 Census. Its capital is the town ...
,
Central Java Central Java ( id, Jawa Tengah) is a province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogyakarta in t ...
, Djajakusuma became interested in the arts at a young age, choosing to pursue a career in theatre. During the Japanese occupation from 1943 to 1945 he was a translator and actor, and in the four-year
national revolution National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...
which followed he worked for the military's educational division, several news agencies, and in drama. In 1951, Djajakusuma joined the National Film Corporation (Perfini) at the invitation of
Usmar Ismail Usmar Ismail (20 March 1921 – 2 January 1971) was an Indonesian film director, author, journalist and revolutionary of Minangkabau descent. He was widely regarded as the native Indonesian pioneer of the cinema of Indonesia. Biography ...
. After making his directorial debut with ''
Embun ''Embun'' (Indonesian for ''Dewdrop'') is a 1952 film directed by D. Djajakusuma for Perfini in his directorial debut. Plot After the conclusion of the Indonesian National Revolution, Leman (AN Alcaff) and Barjo (Rd Ismail) go to the national ca ...
'', Djajakusuma released a further eleven films with the company before leaving in 1964. He then returned to traditional Indonesian theatre, including ''
wayang , also known as ( jv, ꦮꦪꦁ, translit=wayang), is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the Indonesian island of Java. refers to the entire dramatic show. Sometimes the leather puppet itself is referred to as . Perfor ...
''. Although he continued to direct movies independently of Perfini, most of his energies were dedicated to promoting traditional art forms and teaching cinematography. After over a decade of poor health and high blood pressure, Djajakusuma collapsed during a ceremony and died. He was buried in
Karet Bivak Cemetery Karet Bivak is a cemetery in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is the second largest in the city. Description Karet Bivak is located in Central Jakarta, Jakarta. It covers an area of , making it the second-largest cemetery in Jakarta. In 2007 it contained a ...
. The dedicated but easily angered Djajakusuma was influenced by Usmar Ismail's realist views, although he focused more on traditional aspects of life. His theatrical performances attempted to modernize traditional forms so that they could be better received in a modern world. He is credited with revitalising the Betawi theatre form ''
lenong ''Lenong'' is a traditional theatrical form of the Betawi people in Jakarta, Indonesia. Description ''Lenong'' is a form of theatre traditional to the Betawi people of Jakarta, Indonesia. Dialogue is generally in the Betawi dialect. Actions and ...
'' and received numerous awards for his filmmaking, including a lifetime achievement award at the
Indonesian Film Festival The Indonesian Film Festival (Indonesian: Festival Film Indonesia, 'FFI') is an annual awards ceremony organised by the Indonesian Film Board and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology to celebrate cinematic achievements in ...
.


Biography


Early life

Djajakusuma was born on 1 August 1918 in Parakan,
Temanggung Temanggung Regency ( id, Kabupaten Temanggung) is a regency in the Central Java Province of Indonesia. It covers a land area of 870.65 km2 and had a population of 708,546 at the 2010 Census and 790,174 at the 2020 Census. Its capital is the town ...
,
Central Java Central Java ( id, Jawa Tengah) is a province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogyakarta in t ...
,
Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...
, to a '' priyayi'' father, Raden Mas Aryo Djojokoesomo, and his wife Kasimah. Djajakusuma was the fifth child of six born to the couple, who lived comfortably off Djojokoesomo's salary as a government official. While young he enjoyed watching stage performances, such as ''
wayang , also known as ( jv, ꦮꦪꦁ, translit=wayang), is a traditional form of puppet theatre play originating from the Indonesian island of Java. refers to the entire dramatic show. Sometimes the leather puppet itself is referred to as . Perfor ...
'' puppetry and the traditional dance form ''tayuban''; at times he would furtively leave his home after bedtime to watch the productions. With his friends, he would act out the
bedtime stories A bedtime story is a traditional form of storytelling, where a story is told to a child at bedtime to prepare the child for sleep. The bedtime story has long been considered "a definite institution in many families".Dickson, Marguerite Stockma ...
his mother told him. When imported
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...
films began to be screened, he was an avid viewer, watching Westerns and works starring
Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...
. Owing to his position as the son of a nobleman, Djajakusuma was able to receive an education. He completed his studies in
Semarang Semarang ( jv, ꦏꦸꦛꦯꦼꦩꦫꦁ , Pegon: سماراڠ) is the capital and largest city of Central Java province in Indonesia. It was a major port during the Dutch colonial era, and is still an important regional center and port today. ...
, Central Java, graduating from the
natural science Natural science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer review and repeatab ...
s programme at a senior high school there in 1941. Although his family hoped that he would become a government employee like his father, Djajakusuma decided to go into the
performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perform ...
. He returned to his hometown for a short time before realising that he would have little opportunity in Parakan. Accordingly, in early 1943 – almost a year after the Indies were
occupied ' (Norwegian: ') is a Norwegian political thriller TV series that premiered on TV2 on 5 October 2015. Based on an original idea by Jo Nesbø, the series is co-created with Karianne Lund and Erik Skjoldbjærg. Season 2 premiered on 10 October 2 ...
by the Empire of Japan – Djajakusuma moved to the colony's political centre,
Jakarta Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coast of Java, the world's most populous island, Jakarta ...
, to find work. Djajakusuma became employed at the Cultural Centre as a translator and actor under Armijn Pane. Among the works he translated were several pieces by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg and Norwegian playwright
Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...
, as well as a history of Japan and several '' kabuki'' stage plays. While with the centre, Djajakusuma wrote several of his own stage plays. In his free time, Djajakusuma helped establish the amateur theatre company Maya, together with artists such as
HB Jassin Hans Bague Jassin (31 July 1917 – 11 March 2000), better known as HB Jassin, was an Indonesian literary critic, documentarian, and professor. Born in Gorontalo to a bibliophilic petroleum company employee, Jassin began reading while still in ele ...
, Rosihan Anwar, and
Usmar Ismail Usmar Ismail (20 March 1921 – 2 January 1971) was an Indonesian film director, author, journalist and revolutionary of Minangkabau descent. He was widely regarded as the native Indonesian pioneer of the cinema of Indonesia. Biography ...
. The troupe, formed in response to a desire for greater artistic freedom, performed translations of European works and original works by Ismail and El Hakim. To promote a sense of Indonesian nationalism while still conforming with the Japanese censorship bureau's rules, several of Maya's plays did not explicitly promote Japan, but rather the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Themes supporting the Indonesian nationalist movement, meanwhile, remained implicit in the works. With Maya, Djajakusuma travelled from village to village, putting on performances.


Indonesian National Revolution

President
Sukarno Sukarno). (; born Koesno Sosrodihardjo, ; 6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was an Indonesian statesman, orator, revolutionary, and nationalist who was the first president of Indonesia, serving from 1945 to 1967. Sukarno was the leader of ...
proclaimed Indonesia's independence on 17 August 1945, days after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Expecting the Dutch colonial government to return, Djajakusuma and Ismail helped establish the Independent Artists (Seniman Merdeka) as a form of resistance. The group travelled throughout the city, spreading news of Indonesia's proclaimed independence while performing from an open-air truck. After the arrival of the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration, the group sometimes attempted to spy on the Europeans or hide information which would be considered useful to the returning Dutch forces. Owing to this dangerous work, Djajakusuma began carrying a pistol, and went to Banten to ask a '' kyai'' to make him impervious to bullets. In early 1946, with the Dutch colonial forces in control of Jakarta, Djajakusuma fled to the new national capital at Yogyakarta. There, he spent a time with the national news agency
Antara Antara is an Indonesian news agency organized as a statutory corporation. It is the country's national news agency, supplying news reports to many domestic media organizations. It is the only organization authorized to distribute news material ...
before joining the military's educational division, rising to the rank of captain. For the military Djajakusuma edited the weekly ''Tentara''; he also contributed articles to Ismail's cultural magazine ''Arena''. Despite his involvement in the press, he did not abandon the theatre; with Surjo Sumanto, he established a troupe which performed for soldiers and raised morale, sometimes travelling to the frontlines. Djajakusuma was hired by the Ministry of Information in 1947 to teach at a school for the performance arts, the Mataram Entertainment Foundation (). Through Mataram, he and Ismail were introduced to filmmakers
Andjar Asmara Abisin Abbas (; 26 February 1902 – 20 October 1961), better known by his pseudonym Andjar Asmara (), was a dramatist and filmmaker active in the cinema of the Dutch East Indies. Born in Alahan Panjang, West Sumatra, he first worked as ...
, Huyung, and Sutarto; the two studied under these more established individuals. Meanwhile, Djajakusuma was put in charge of censoring radio broadcasts in Republican-held areas, a duty he held until the Dutch captured Yogyakarta on 19 December 1948. Djajakusuma fled the city, then met up with Republican forces. Using an old radio and a bicycle-powered generator, Djajakusuma listened to international news broadcasts and wrote them down; the information from these broadcasts was then printed in underground newspapers. After the
Indonesian National Revolution The Indonesian National Revolution, or the Indonesian War of Independence, was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during Aftermath of WWII, postw ...
ended with Dutch recognition of Indonesia's independence in 1949, Djajakusuma continued to work as a journalist for ''Patriot'' (a rebranding of ''Tentara'') and the magazine ''Kebudajaan Nusantara''; Mataram was reopened, and Djajakusuma began teaching there again while managing the Soboharsono cinema and writing several stage plays. Ismail, meanwhile, went back to Jakarta and established the National Film Corporation (, or Perfini); its first production, '' Darah dan Doa'' (''The Long March''), which gave a fictionalised version of the
Siliwangi Division Military Regional Command III/Siliwangi ( id, Komando Daerah Militer III/Siliwangi or Kodam III/Siliwangi) is an Indonesian Army Regional Military Command that covers Banten and West Java province. The division was formed during the Indonesian ...
's trek from Yogyakarta to West Java in 1948, was directed by Ismail and released in 1950.


Career with Perfini

In preparation for his second film, ''
Enam Djam di Jogja ''Enam Djam di Jogja'' (Perfected Spelling: ''Enam Jam di Yogya'', literally ''Six Hours in Yogya'') is a 1951 Indonesian film directed by Usmar Ismail. It was the second film to be produced under the PERFINI banner. Detailing the show of force in ...
'' (''Six Hours in Yogyakarta''), Ismail recalled Djajakusuma to Jakarta. For the film, Djajakusuma helped Ismail adapt the General Assault of 1 March 1949 for the screen. Production was completed on a low budget; Djajakusuma later recalled that their camera had to be powered by a car battery. Despite this and other difficulties, Djajakusuma stayed on after the film's completion, completing another work for Perfini, ''Dosa Tak Berampun'' (''Unforgivable Sin''), later that year. Ismail served as director for this film, about a man who leaves his family after he is transfixed by the smile of a waitress. While Ismail, who remained head of Perfini, went abroad to study cinematography at the School of Theater, Film and Television at the University of California, Los Angeles, Djajakusuma began taking a larger role in Perfini. He made his directorial debut in 1952 with ''
Embun ''Embun'' (Indonesian for ''Dewdrop'') is a 1952 film directed by D. Djajakusuma for Perfini in his directorial debut. Plot After the conclusion of the Indonesian National Revolution, Leman (AN Alcaff) and Barjo (Rd Ismail) go to the national ca ...
'' (''Dewdrop''), which showed the psychological troubles faced by soldiers upon returning to their village after the revolution. The film was shot in
Wonosari Wonosari ( jv, ꦮꦤꦱꦫꦶ, translit=Wanasari) is the administrative centre of Gunung Kidul Regency, in the Special Region of Yogyakarta on Java, Indonesia. Wonosari District is bordered to the north by the district of Nglipar, to the east by t ...
, at the time in the middle of a drought, to provide a visual metaphor for the barren souls of the warriors. Because of its depiction of traditional superstitions, the film had trouble with both the censorship bureau and critics; superstition was considered incompatible with the new republic's need for modernisation. The release of ''Embun'' made Djajakusuma one of four directors to work for Perfini; the others were Ismail, Nya Abas Akup, and Wahyu Sihombing. Djajakusuma's next production, ''Terimalah Laguku'' (''Take My Song''; 1952), was a
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
about an old, impoverished musician who sells his saxophone to help his former student's career. Though the film's technical quality was poor, when he returned to Indonesia in 1953 Ismail was pleased with the work, stating that the editing had been done well. Over the next year Ismail conveyed information he learned at UCLA to the Perfini staff; Djajakusuma followed these lessons closely. This was followed by ''
Harimau Tjampa ''Tiger from Tjampa'' ( id, Harimau Tjampa) is an Indonesian black and white drama film released in 1953, produced by Perfini, written and directed by D. Djajakusuma. It is still highly regarded today in Indonesia as an early portrayal in a fiction ...
'' (''Tiger from Tjampa'') in 1953, a film about a man who attempts to avenge his father's death. Set amidst Minang culture, the film featured some of the first nudity in a domestic production and was a considerable critical success. In 1954 Djajakusuma directed two comedies, ''Putri dari Medan'' (''Daughter of Medan'') and ''Mertua Sinting'' (''Insane Parents-in-Law''). The first dealt with three young men who resolve to never marry, only for their strength to waver after meeting some women from Medan, while the second followed a man who rejects his son's choice of spouse owing to her lack of noble descent, then unknowingly chooses the same woman to be his son's wife. The following year Djajakusuma helped establish the Indonesian Screen Actors Guild (; PARFI). His only film that year, the drama ''Arni'', told of a man who married another woman while his sick wife went to Padang,
Sumatra Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the sixth-largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 (182,812 mi.2), not including adjacent i ...
, for treatment. Djajakusuma studied cinematography in the United States, first at the University of Washington in Seattle, then at the University of Southern California's
School of Cinematic Arts The University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) houses seven academic divisions: Film & Television Production; Cinema & Media Studies; John C. Hench Division of Animation + Digital Arts; John Wells Division of Writing for Sc ...
, from 1956 to 1957. When he returned to Indonesia, he worked with Ismail and fellow Perfini employee Asrul Sani to establish the National Theatre Academy of Indonesia (), which promoted realism; the Indonesian dramatist
Putu Wijaya I Gusti Ngurah Putu Wijaya (born April 11, 1944), better known simply as Putu Wijaya, was born in Tabanan, Bali. He is an Indonesian author, considered by many to be one of Indonesia's most prominent literary figures. His output is impressive; ...
described the realism promoted by the academy as more Indonesian than Western, while Djajakusuma considered inspired by the Italian neorealist movement. Djajakusuma remained a lecturer with the academy until 1970, and his students considered him humorous and easy to approach. Upon his return to Indonesia, Djajakusuma began work on ''
Tjambuk Api ''Tjambuk Api'' (literally ''Whips of Fire'') is a 1958 Indonesian martial arts film directed by D. Djajakusuma and produced by Usmar Ismail. Starring Bambang Irawan, Aminah Cendrakasih, Soekarno M. Noer, and Rendra Karno, it tells of a young ...
'' (''Whips of Fire''; 1958), a critique of the widespread corruption in Indonesia; this theme led to the film being held by the censorship bureau for almost a year. The director followed this with the drama ''Pak Prawiro'' (''Mr. Prawiro''), which was sponsored by the Post Savings Bank () and meant to convey the importance of having savings. During this period he studied the traditional theatre of India, travelling to Calcutta,
Madras Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...
, and New Delhi; he hoped that this first-hand experience would inspire him in the filming of traditional Indonesian stories. In 1960 Djajakusuma released his first film based on traditional ''wayang'' stories, ''Lahirnja Gatotkatja''; the traditional puppetry had fascinated him as a child, and he greatly enjoyed the character Gatotkaca. Shot in Yogyakarta, the film featured a cast of stars from Jakarta and local talent in backing roles. It was, however, controversial: ''
dhalang The dhalang or dalang ( jv, dhalang; id, dalang) is the puppeteer in an Indonesian ''wayang'' performance. In a performance of ''wayang kulit'', the dalang sits behind a screen (''kelir'') made of white cotton stretched on a wooden frame. Above ...
'' and others versed in ''wayang'' argued that the director had ignored too many traditional aspects of the puppetry. That year Djajakusuma also served as
production manager In the cinema of the United States, a unit production manager (UPM) is the Directors Guild of America–approved title for the top below-the-line staff position, responsible for the administration of a feature film or television production. Non- ...
for Ismail's ''
Pedjuang ''Warriors for Freedom'' ( id, Pedjuang) is a 1960 Indonesian drama film directed by Usmar Ismail. It was entered into the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival where Bambang Hermanto won the Silver Prize for Best Actor. Plot Circa 1947, a pla ...
'' (''Warriors for Freedom'') and directed ''Mak Tjomblang'' (''Mrs. Tjomblang''), a comedy adapted from
Nikolai Gogol Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol; uk, link=no, Мико́ла Васи́льович Го́голь, translit=Mykola Vasyliovych Hohol; (russian: Яновский; uk, Яновський, translit=Yanovskyi) ( – ) was a Russian novelist, ...
's 1842 drama '' Marriage''. Djajakusuma released another comedy, ''Masa Topan dan Badai'' (''Time of Cyclones and Storms''), in 1963; the film centres around the family dynamics of a conservative father, liberal mother, and their two teenaged daughters who are in the throes of adolescence. The following year Djajakusuma directed his last film with Perfini, ''Rimba Bergema'' (''Echoing Jungles''), which was meant to promote the nation's rubber industry. That year he helped establish the Film and TV Employee's Union (), a response to the
Lekra The Lembaga Kebudajaan Rakjat (Enhanced Indonesian Spelling System, EYD: Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat, often abbreviated Lekra; meaning Institute for the People's Culture) was a very prolific literary and social movement associated with the Indonesian ...
-sponsored Indonesian Film League. As with Ismail and most Perfini employees, Djajakusuma was staunchly against the
communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...
-affiliated Lekra; the cultural group was likewise hostile towards those affiliated with Perfini.


Later career

Towards the end of his time with Perfini, Djajakusuma again became active in traditional arts. He devoted considerable time towards the promotion of ''wayang''. In 1967 he organised the National Wayang Festival, which collapsed shortly afterwards owing to a lack of funds. In 1967 he directed the ''wayang''-inspired film ''Bimo Kroda'' for Pantja Murti Film, which used the destruction of the
Pandawa The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledged ...
 – brothers in the Hindu epic ''
Mahābhārata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
'' – to represent the kidnappings and subsequent murders of five army generals during the
30 September Movement The Thirtieth of September Movement ( id, Gerakan 30 September, abbreviated as G30S, also known by the acronym Gestapu for ''Gerakan September Tiga Puluh'', Thirtieth of September Movement) was a self-proclaimed organization of Indonesian Na ...
in 1965. Djajakusuma's involvement with ''wayang'' continued into the early 1970s; he organised two Wayang Weeks, in 1970 and 1974, as well as a national ''wayang'' festival in 1977. Furthermore, he established two ''
wayang orang ''Wayang wong'', also known as ''wayang orang'' (literally "human '' wayang''"), is a type of classical Javanese and Balinese dance theatrical performance with themes taken from episodes of the '' Ramayāna'' or '' Mahabharāta''. Performance ...
'' troupes, Jaya Budaya (1971) and Bharata (1973), hoping to save the ailing medium by modernising it. Meanwhile, Djajakusuma helped promote art forms such as the Betawi ''
lenong ''Lenong'' is a traditional theatrical form of the Betawi people in Jakarta, Indonesia. Description ''Lenong'' is a form of theatre traditional to the Betawi people of Jakarta, Indonesia. Dialogue is generally in the Betawi dialect. Actions and ...
'' and Javanese '' ludruk'' over a period of several years. He is particularly recognised for his revitalising ''lenong''. Beginning in 1968, Djajakusuma appeared on television as an advocate of ''lenong'', which was then limited to rural villages and on the verge of dying out. He increased popular knowledge of the form while arguing for proper remuneration for performers. Through the 1970s ''lenong'' was performed at Ismail Marzuki Hall, drawing considerable audiences, and several ''lenong'' performers found mainstream acclaim in the film industry. Djajakusuma also promoted non-traditional cultural activities, both modern and foreign. In 1968 he became the head of the Jakarta Art Council, a position he held until 1977, and in 1970 he held a '' kroncong'' music festival. Beginning with the school's establishment in 1970, he became a lecturer at the Jakarta Institute for Arts Education (, later the Jakarta Art Institute or IKJ, teaching cinematography. To better understand the world's theatre, in 1977 he went to Japan and China to study their traditions. He later led the students in various stage performances, including adaptations of Japanese '' noh'' and
Chinese opera Traditional Chinese opera (), or ''Xiqu'', is a form of musical theatre in China with roots going back to the early periods in China. It is an amalgamation of various art forms that existed in ancient China, and evolved gradually over more tha ...
; several of these performances were held at Ismail Marzuki Hall. In the 1970s Djajakusuma held a variety of positions in film organisations, including as a member of the Film Council (1974–76), a member of the board of trustees for Radio and TV Broadcasts (1976), and a member of the Bureau for the Development of National Film (1977–78). Djajakusuma's productivity in the film industry, however, declined. In 1971 he directed his final films, ''Api di Bukit Menoreh'' (''Fire on Mount Menoreh'') and ''
Malin Kundang (Anak Durhaka) ''Malin Kundang (Anak Durhaka)'' (literally ''Malin Kundang, the Unfaithful Child]'') is a 1971 film directed by D. Djajakusuma and adapted by Asrul Sani from the folktale of the same name. It follows a young boy who forgets his roots after spend ...
'' (''Malin Kundang aithless Child'). The first, released for Penas Film Studio and based on a novel by Singgih Hadi Mintardja, followed soldiers from the
Kingdom of Pajang The Kingdom of Pajang or Sultanate of Pajang (كسلطانن ڤاجڠ ;1586–1568) was a short-lived Muslim state in Java. It was established by Hadiwijaya or Jaka Tingkir, Lord of Boyolali, after a civil war and was a successor to Sultanate o ...
in their efforts to subdue soldiers from the rival kingdom of Jipang. The second film was an adaptation of the Malay folktale of the same name. Starring Rano Karno and Putu Wijaya as the title character, the film follows a young boy who forgets his roots after spending much of his childhood at sea. His last role as a filmmaker was in 1977, when he helped produce Fritz G. Schadt's comedy ''Bang Kojak'' (''Brother Kojak''; 1977).


Final years and death

In 1977 Djajakusuma served on the jury of the
Indonesian Film Festival The Indonesian Film Festival (Indonesian: Festival Film Indonesia, 'FFI') is an annual awards ceremony organised by the Indonesian Film Board and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology to celebrate cinematic achievements in ...
(, or FFI). While reading the decision, he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, while Rosihan Anwar completed the reading. Djajakusuma's neighbour and frequent collaborator
Taufiq Ismail Taufiq Ismail (born 25 June 1935) is an Indonesian poet, activist and the editor of the monthly literary magazine ''Horison''. Ismail figured prominently in Indonesian literature of the post-Sukarno period and is considered one of the pioneers of ...
told reporters that it was not the first time Djajakusuma had collapsed. Djajakusuma continued to suffer from bouts of sudden weakness for the rest of his life, caused by high blood pressure. Despite his rapidly failing health, Djajakusuma remained active in the arts. In 1980 he made his last film appearance, and his only role on the big screen, acting in Ismail Soebardjo's ''Perempuan dalam Pasungan'' (''Woman in Stocks''). He and
Sofia WD Sofia W. D. (12 October 1924 – 23 July 1986)"Indonesian actress Sofia W.D. dies", ''The Straits Times'', 24 July 1986. was an Indonesian actress and film director. She appeared in 43 films between 1952 and 1986. Her film ''Badai-Selatan'' ...
portrayed parents who regularly put their daughter in
stocks Stocks are feet restraining devices that were used as a form of corporal punishment and public humiliation. The use of stocks is seen as early as Ancient Greece, where they are described as being in use in Solon's law code. The law describing ...
to punish her for being disobedient; in an interview with ''
Suara Karya ''Suara Karya'' (lit. ''Voice of Work'') was a daily newspaper published in Indonesia. Established in 1971 to assist Golkar in winning that year's legislative election, it became required reading for all civil servants and the voice of Golkar. Af ...
'', Soebardjo recalled that, from the time he had written it, he had only considered Djajakusuma for the role. ''Perempuan dalam Pasungan'' won the
Citra Award for Best Film The Citra Award for Best Picture ( Indonesian: ''Film Cerita Panjang Terbaik'') is an award given at the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) to the best feature film of the year. The Citra Awards, described by '' Screen International'' as "Indonesia' ...
at the 1981 Indonesian Film Festival, and Djajakusuma expressed an interest in making several further films; this was, however, never realised. In 1983 Djajakusuma served as dean of the Faculty of Arts at IKJ, and in 1984 he went to the
Three Continents Festival The Festival des 3 Continents is an annual film festival held since 1979 in Nantes, France, and is devoted to the cinemas of Asia, and Africa and Latin America. It was founded by Philippe and Alain Jalladeau.Nantes Nantes (, , ; Gallo: or ; ) is a city in Loire-Atlantique on the Loire, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 314,138 in Nantes proper and a metropolitan area of nearly 1 million inhabita ...
, France, where two of his films were shown to critical acclaim. In early 1987 Djajakusuma's doctor diagnosed him with
heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, hea ...
, which led Djajakusuma to begin dieting and stop smoking. He continued to be highly respected in Indonesian film circles, but was displeased with the condition of the country's film industry, which he considered to be on the verge of collapse. This he blamed on American cultural imperialism, which meant that most cinemas preferred screening foreign films, especially those from Hollywood, and that Indonesian youth were no longer creating a uniquely Indonesian identity. Djajakusuma collapsed on 28 October 1987 while giving a speech in commemoration of the Youth Pledge at the IKJ, striking his head on a stone step. After being rushed to Cikini General Hospital, he was declared dead at 10:05 a.m. local time (UTC+7). He was buried at
Karet Bivak Cemetery Karet Bivak is a cemetery in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is the second largest in the city. Description Karet Bivak is located in Central Jakarta, Jakarta. It covers an area of , making it the second-largest cemetery in Jakarta. In 2007 it contained a ...
that evening, after ceremonies at the IKJ led by the author Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana and prayers at the Amir Hamzah Mosque in Ismail Marzuki Hall led by the poet Taufiq Ismail. Among the mourners were the former Minister of Information
Boediardjo Air Marshal Boediardjo (16 November 1921 – 15 March 1997) was an Indonesian Minister of Information (1968 - 1973) for the Indonesian First Development Cabinet. Education * Hollandisch-Inlandische School (HIS) Rejosari, Semarang, Indonesia ( ...
, the Minister of Education and Culture
Fuad Hassan Fuad Hassan ( ar, فؤاد حسن '; June 26, 1929 – December 7, 2007) was an Indonesian politician. Biography Hassan was born in Semarang, Indonesia and was graduated from the University of Indonesia with a PhD in psychology. He served as th ...
, and the Deputy Governor of Jakarta Anwar Umar. Djajakusuma had never married, but left behind several nieces and nephews whom he had raised as his own children. After his death, newspapers throughout Jakarta carried obituaries by such cultural and film figures as Alisjahbana, the producer Misbach Yusa Biran, and the Perfini cameraman Soemardjono. These obituaries emphasised Djajakusuma's role in the development of the Indonesian film industry and the preservation of traditional culture. In a ceremony commemorating the fifth anniversary of Djajakusuma's death, all his documents and books were donated to the IKJ library.


Style

Like Usmar Ismail, Djajakusuma was influenced by realism. However, while Ismail preferred to focus on national-level themes, Djajakusuma was more drawn to simple, locally relevant storylines with educational messages. This realism carried over into Djajakusuma's work in ''wayang''. The settings, traditionally drawn, were instead created as three-dimensional sets, including representations of trees, rocks, and water. According to Soemardjono, who often edited Djajakusuma's films, the director enjoyed experimenting with new techniques to better convey his intentions. Djajakusuma often included traditional arts in his films, and two of them (''Lahirnja Gatotkatja'' and ''Bimo Kroda'') were based on traditional ''wayang'' stories and used ''wayang''-inspired costumes and tempos.; This focus on aspects of traditional culture fell out of the mainstream after 1965, having been replaced by films about city life. Djajakusuma's theatrical productions experimented with new storytelling techniques, adapting the traditional styles for the modern world. As a lecturer teaching screenwriting and the history of theatre, Djajakusuma focused on Indonesian arts. He argued that Indonesians should rely on local culture, not continuously look towards the West. In other areas he was mostly apolitical. The Indonesian sociologist
Umar Kayam Umar Kayam (30 April 1932 – 16 March 2002) was an Indonesian sociologist and writer. Biography He began his education at the Hollandsch-Inlandsche School (HIS) in Surakarta, where his father also taught. He continued his education at a MULO ...
, who had served on the Jakarta Art Council with Djajakusuma, described the director as highly disciplined. Biran described him as having a fiery temper which could be triggered suddenly, yet quick to calm when the trigger was removed; this sentiment was echoed by several people who had worked with Djajakusuma. Coverage in the film magazine ''Djaja'' described him as hardworking and highly dedicated to his craft, to the point of forsaking romantic relationships.


Reception

Djajakusuma's film ''Harimau Tjampa'' garnered him the Best Screenplay Award at the 1954 Asian Film Festival. His later film ''Bimo Kroda'' was recognised by the Indonesian Department of Information for promoting traditional culture. In 1970 he received an Art Award from the Indonesian government for "his service to the State as the Main Promoter of the Development of Modern Drama". At the 1987 Indonesian Film Festival, he received a special award for his contributions to the film industry, and in November 2003 he was posthumously granted a Budaya Parama Dharma Award by President
Megawati Sukarnoputri Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Sukarnoputri (; born 23 January 1947) is an Indonesian politician who served as the fifth president of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004. She previously served as the eighth Vice President of Indonesia, vice president f ...
for his contributions to the development of Indonesian culture. Critical reception has been positive. The award-winning director
Teguh Karya Teguh Karya (born Steve Liem Tjoan Hok; ; 22 September 1937 – 11 December 2001) was an Indonesian film director. Starting his entertainment career in theatre, he made his directorial debut with '' Wadjah Seorang Laki-Laki'', released thr ...
cited the works of Djajakusuma, Usmar Ismail, and Asrul Sani as "legendary" and among his greatest influences. Choreographer Bagong Kussudiardjo reportedly so respected Djajakusuma that he had named his son Djadoeg after the director. According to a memorial in the newspaper '' Kompas'', Djajakusuma was also dubbed a "living legend" during his visit to Nantes. A later ''Kompas'' article records Djajakusuma's best-remembered works are ''Harimau Tjampa'' and ''Tjambuk Api''. Those two works are those most often shown, owing to the fact that ready-to-use copies are stored at Sinematek Indonesia; his other surviving films are kept as negatives.


Filmography


Cast

*''Perempuan dalam Pasungan'' (''Girl in Stocks''; 1980) – as Mr. Prawiro


Crew

*''
Enam Djam di Jogja ''Enam Djam di Jogja'' (Perfected Spelling: ''Enam Jam di Yogya'', literally ''Six Hours in Yogya'') is a 1951 Indonesian film directed by Usmar Ismail. It was the second film to be produced under the PERFINI banner. Detailing the show of force in ...
'' (''Six Hours in Yogya''; 1951) – as screenwriter *''
Embun ''Embun'' (Indonesian for ''Dewdrop'') is a 1952 film directed by D. Djajakusuma for Perfini in his directorial debut. Plot After the conclusion of the Indonesian National Revolution, Leman (AN Alcaff) and Barjo (Rd Ismail) go to the national ca ...
'' (''Dewdrop''; 1951) – as director and screenwriter *''Dosa Tak Berampun'' (''Unforgivable Sin''; 1951) – as screenwriter *''Terimalah Laguku'' (''Take My Song''; 1952) – as director *''
Harimau Tjampa ''Tiger from Tjampa'' ( id, Harimau Tjampa) is an Indonesian black and white drama film released in 1953, produced by Perfini, written and directed by D. Djajakusuma. It is still highly regarded today in Indonesia as an early portrayal in a fiction ...
'' (''Tiger from Tjampa''; 1953) – as director and screenwriter *''Putri dari Medan'' (''Girl From Medan''; 1954) – director *''Mertua Sinting'' (''Insane Parents-in-Law''; 1954) – as director *''Arni'' (1955) – as director *''
Tjambuk Api ''Tjambuk Api'' (literally ''Whips of Fire'') is a 1958 Indonesian martial arts film directed by D. Djajakusuma and produced by Usmar Ismail. Starring Bambang Irawan, Aminah Cendrakasih, Soekarno M. Noer, and Rendra Karno, it tells of a young ...
'' (''Whips of Fire''; 1958) – as director *''Pak Prawiro'' (''Mr. Prawiro''; 1958) – as director and screenwriter *''
Pedjuang ''Warriors for Freedom'' ( id, Pedjuang) is a 1960 Indonesian drama film directed by Usmar Ismail. It was entered into the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival where Bambang Hermanto won the Silver Prize for Best Actor. Plot Circa 1947, a pla ...
'' (''Warriors for Freedom''; 1960) – as production manager *''Mak Tjomblang'' (''Mrs. Tjomblang''; 1960) – as director and screenwriter *''Lahirnja Gatotkatja'' (''Birth of Gatotkatja''; 1960) – as director and screenwriter *''Masa Topan dan Badai'' (''Time of Cyclones and Storms''; 1963) – as director *''Rimba Bergema'' (''Echoing Jungles''; 1964) – as director *''Bimo Kroda'' (1967) – as director *''
Malin Kundang (Anak Durhaka) ''Malin Kundang (Anak Durhaka)'' (literally ''Malin Kundang, the Unfaithful Child]'') is a 1971 film directed by D. Djajakusuma and adapted by Asrul Sani from the folktale of the same name. It follows a young boy who forgets his roots after spend ...
'' (''Malin Kundang aithless Child'; 1971) – as director *''Api Dibukit Menoreh (Gugurnya Tohpati)'' (''Fire on Mount Menoreh eath of Tohpati'; 1971) – as director *''Bang Kojak'' (''Brother Kojak''; 1977) – as producer


Explanatory notes


References


Works cited

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Djajakusuma, D. 1918 births 1987 deaths Citra Award winners Indonesian male actors Indonesian film directors Indonesian screenwriters People from Temanggung Regency 20th-century Indonesian male actors USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni University of Washington alumni 20th-century screenwriters