Rd. Ariffien
|
Rd Ariffien |
|
|---|---|
| Born |
23 June 1902 Cimahi, West Java, Dutch East Indies |
| Died | 28 December 1976 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | Indonesian |
| Occupation | Film director |
Raden Ariffien, often credited as Rd Ariffien, was an Indonesian film director. Initially a nationalist figure, he entered the film industry in 1940 after a period in theatre and radio. During his 25-year career, he was involved in some 36 films in various positions. He later became head editor of the film magazine Varia.
Ariffien was born in Cimahi, Dutch East Indies, on 23 June 1902. He received a primary-level education. Beginning in 1923 he became involved with the nascent nationalist and labour movements, writing articles for several newspapers. He spent three years in prison during the late 1920s and, shortly after joining the Indonesian National Party (Partai Nasional Indonesia), saw another two years in prison from 1930 to 1931. He later focused his energies on the theatre. By the mid-1930s he had joined the Bolero troupe, under the direction of Andjar Asmara. After leaving the troupe he spent some time directing radio dramas.
By 1940 Ariffien had entered film, making his debut on Harta Berdarah (Bloody Treasure). He co-directed the film, which followed a rich yet terrible man getting his comeuppance, with R. Hu for Union Films. The following year he made Asmara Moerni (Pure Passion), drawing the nationalist figure Adnan Kapau Gani to act in the film, which was targeted at well-educated audiences; the film was generally well received. He wrote one more film, Star's Tjioeng Wanara, and directed another, Wanita dan Satria, that year.
After the Empire of Japan occupied the Indies beginning in 1942, Ariffien worked with the Cultural Board (Keimin Bunka Syidosyo) and was given two opportunities to direct propaganda films for the studio Nippon Eigasha. However, the Indonesian film historian Misbach Yusa Biran suggests that a Japanese man named Kurata Bunjin was the actual director of these works, with Rd Ariffien as his assistant. The first, Berdjoang, was released in 1943 and was meant to entice Indonesians to join the army fighting for Japan; it was the only domestically-produced feature film released in the Dutch East Indies during the occupation. The second, a short film entitled Keseberang, followed in 1944.
...
Wikipedia