Janur Kuning (literally Yellow Coconut Leaves) is a 1980 Indonesian war film directed by Alam Surawidjaja and produced by Abbas Wiranatakusuma. Starring Kaharuddin Syah, Deddy Sutomo, and Dicky Zulkarnaen, it follows the Indonesian revolutionaries six-hour assault on Yogyakarta, under Suharto, in a show of force against the Dutch army. At the time the most expensive domestic production ever, the film's title is meant to symbolise the Indonesian people's struggle. A critical success, Janur Kuning received a nomination and two special awards at the 1980 Indonesian Film Festival. It was screened annually on 1 March between 1980 and 1998, but has since been criticised as an attempt to manipulate history and create a cult with President Suharto in the centre.
In 1948, three years after the Indonesian National Revolution began, the Dutch army invades the republican capital at Yogyakarta. Commander in Chief of the Army Sudirman (Deddy Sutomo) escapes, while the city's sultan Hamengkubuwana IX must stay there with his people and the national leadership. Sudirman, after escaping from the Dutch who were following him, goes on a guerrilla campaign.
The following year, Lieutenant Colonel Suharto (Kaharuddin Syah) devises a daring plan, a show of force in the capital. Early in the morning on 1March 1949 he takes his soldiers– all in full uniform– and retakes the city, overwhelming the Dutch. After six hours Suharto and his men retreat, as planned. Several months later the Dutch recognise Indonesia's independence.
Production
The film's portrayal of Sudirman has been described as having mystic powers.
Janur Kuning was directed by Alam Surawidjaja and produced by Abbas Wiranatakusuma of the Jakarta-based production house Metro 77. The script was written by Syafnizal Durab in collaboration with Arto Hady, while cinematography was completed by Kasdullah. In post-production Soemardjono handled editing and Sudharnoto and Suparman Sidik handled music and other sound effects. Kaharuddin Syah starred as Suharto, while Deddy Sutomo played Sudirman; other cast members included Amak Baldjun and Dicky Zulkarnaen.[1]
Janur Kuning was the most expensive Indonesian film up to that point, with a budget of Rp.375million. The cost led production to be held up for over a month when the allocated funds were unavailable.[2] It was the second domestic production to deal with the 1March general assault, after Usmar Ismail's Enam Djam di Djogdja (Six Hours in Jogja; 1951).[3] The film's title, which refers to immature coconut leaves, is meant to symbolise the Indonesian people's struggle against the Dutch colonists.[4] In the film, fighters wear the leaves on their sleeves to show their loyalty.[4]
A scene was filmed, several minutes long, showing Sudirman meeting and hugging Sultan HamengkubuwanaIX after returning from his guerrilla campaign. According to Sutomo, the scene was cut because the censors working for Suharto's New Order disapproved of it.[5] Sudirman, sickly from tuberculosis during his guerrilla campaign, is depicted as having mystic powers: the military historian Katherine McGregor notes such an effect in one scene, where Sudirman whispers a prayer and causes the rain to fall, distracting his Dutch pursuers and allowing him to escape.[6]
Several small scenes were filmed using foreign high school students from Jakarta International School, who were brought to Yogjakarta to portray the Dutch soldiers during their midterm break from school.[7] Additional European extras were recruited from the ranks of young overland travelers from the US, Australia, Germany and other Western countries.
Release and reception
Janur Kuning was released in 1980. At that year's Indonesian Film Festival, Amak Baldjun was nominated for a Citra Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film. Two special awards were also given at the ceremony, for Producer Supporting the People's Struggle (Producer Film yang Mengolah Perjuangan Bangsa and Hopeful Actor (Pemeran Harapan Pria).[8] It has remained well received. In an overview of Indonesian patriotic films for The Jakarta Globe, Awis Mranani wrote that Janur Kuning was "one to watch".[9]
After its release, Janur Kuning was broadcast annually on TVRI on 1March.[10] In September 1998, four months after the fall of Suharto, Information Minister Yunus Yosfiah stated that the film was an attempt to manipulate history and create a cult with Suharto in the centre. Two other films, Serangan Fajar (Dawn Attack; 1981) and Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI (Treachery of G30S/PKI; 1984), were also affected by the decree.[11][12]Serangan Fajar portrayed Suharto as a great hero of the revolution, especially the 1March General Assault,[13] while Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI emphasised the former president's role in destroying the 30 September Movement coup in 1965.[11] The accuracy of Janur Kuning had been questioned as early as its release.[14]
Armitrianto, Adhitia (2 March 2009). "Ingat Janur Kuning"[Remembers Janur Kuning]. Suara Merdeka (in Indonesian). Semarang. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
"Enam Djam di Djogdja". filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
"Janur Kuning". filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
"Kredit Janur Kuning"[Credits for Janur Kuning]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
"Penghargaan Janur Kuning"[Awards for Janur Kuning]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
"Pengkhianatan G-30-S PKI". filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
Prihtiyani, Eny (15 December 2010). "Janur Kuning, Simbol Perlawanan"[Yellow Coconut Leaves, Symbols of Resistance]. Kompas (in Indonesian). Jakarta. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
Rini K; Evan (30 September 2012). "Tokoh di Balik Penghentian Pemutaran Film G30S"[Persons Behind the Ceasing of Screenings of the G30S Film]. Tempo (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
"Serangan Fajar". filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
Related Research Articles
Abdul Haris Nasution was a high-ranking Indonesian general and politician. He served in the military during the Indonesian National Revolution and he remained in the military during the subsequent turmoil of the Parliamentary democracy and Guided Democracy. Following the fall of President Sukarno from power, he became the Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly under President Suharto. Born into a Batak Muslim family, in the village of Hutapungkut, Dutch East Indies, he studied teaching and enrolled at a military academy in Bandung.
The Thirtieth of September Movement was a self-proclaimed organization of Indonesian National Armed Forces members. In the early hours of 1 October 1965, they assassinated six Indonesian Army generals in an abortive coup d'état. Later that morning, the organisation declared that it was in control of media and communication outlets and had taken President Sukarno under its protection. By the end of the day, the coup attempt had failed in Jakarta. Meanwhile, in central Java there was an attempt to take control over an army division and several cities. By the time this rebellion was put down, two more senior officers were dead.
Merah Putih is a movie, directed by Yadi Sugandi, brought out in Indonesia in 2009. This film is an adaptation of Japanese propaganda film Air dan Api by Andreas Liong and Ignatius Matulessy in 1943.
The Wong brothers were three ethnic Chinese film directors and cameramen active in the cinema of the Dutch East Indies. The sons of an Adventist preacher, the brothers – Nelson (1895–1945), Joshua (1906–1981), and Othniel (1908–1986) – received much of their education in the United States before going to Shanghai and establishing The Great Wall Productions.
Fred Young was an ethnic Chinese film director and producer active in the Dutch East Indies and its successor state, Indonesia. He reportedly studied film in Hollywood as a youth, but only entered the nation's film industry in 1940. After he made his debut as a writer with Sorga Palsoe, he was involved in some 36 productions, 23 as director.
Raden Ariffien, or better known as Rd. Ariffien, was an Indonesian film director. Originally a nationalist figure, he entered the film industry in 1940 after working in theater and radio. Throughout his 25 year career, he was involved in some 36 films in various positions. He later became editor-in-chief of the film magazine Varia.
Raden Inoe Perbatasari was an Indonesian politician turned film director and actor.
Atheis is a 1974 Indonesian film directed by Sjumandjaja and adapted from Achdiat Karta Mihardja's novel of the same name. It follows a young Muslim man named Hasan who, through his interactions with others, loses his faith.
Gadis Desa is a 1949 comedy from what is now Indonesia written and directed by Andjar Asmara. Starring Basuki Djaelani, Ratna Ruthinah, Ali Joego, and Djauhari Effendi, it follows the romantic hijinks of a village girl who is taken to be a rich man's second wife. The film, produced by a Dutch-run company, is recognised as the first in which future "father of Indonesian film" Usmar Ismail was involved.
Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI is a 1984 Indonesian docudrama co-written and directed by Arifin C. Noer, produced by G. Dwipayana, and starring Amoroso Katamsi, Umar Kayam, and Syubah Asa. Produced over a period of two years with a budget of Rp. 800 million, the film was sponsored by Suharto's New Order government. It was based on an official history of the 30 September Movement coup in 1965 written by Nugroho Notosusanto and Ismail Saleh, which depicted the coup as being orchestrated by the Communist Party of Indonesia.
Brigadier General Raden Panji Nugroho Notosusanto was an Indonesian short story writer turned military historian who served as a professor of history at the University of Indonesia. Born to a noble family in Central Java, he exhibited a high degree of nationalism from a young age. During the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to 1949, he saw active service as a member of the Student Army, working reconnaissance. Despite wanting to remain in the military, under the influence of his father he continued his education, eventually enrolling in the faculty of literature at the University of Indonesia. During the 1950s he wrote extensively and was active in numerous political and academic groups, finally graduating with a degree in history in 1958.
Serangan Fajar is a 1982 Indonesian war film directed by Arifin C. Noer and produced by G. Dwipayana. Telling the lives of several persons during the Indonesian National Revolution, the film used wayang imagery to show heroism. The critically acclaimed film has been read as emphasising then-President Suharto's role in the revolution, especially the General Offensive of 1 March.
Darah dan Doa is a 1950 Indonesian war film directed and produced by Usmar Ismail, telling the story of the Siliwangi Division and its leader Captain Sudarto on a march to West Java. Following Ismail's Dutch-produced Tjitra (1949), Darah dan Doa is often cited as the first 'Indonesian' film, and the film's first day of shooting – 30 March – is celebrated in Indonesia as National Film Day.
Enam Djam di Jogja 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 which the Indonesian republican army retook the capital at Yogyakarta for six hours, the film utilised much of the cast and crew from Ismail's previous work Darah dan Doa (1950). The film was a success in Indonesia and continued to be screened on the state television channel into the 1980s, even after two further films about the event were released.
Ponirah Terpidana is a 1984 Indonesian drama film directed by Slamet Rahardjo. Starring Nani Vidia, Rahardjo, and Ray Sahetapy, it follows a young woman named Ponirah who becomes a prostitute and is arrested for the murder of a rich businessman. The film, which combined traditional and contemporary elements, was a critical success in Indonesia. It won three Citra Awards at the 1984 Indonesian Film Festival, from a total of eleven nominations.
Nico Pelamonia was an Indonesian actor turned film director who won the Citra Award for Best Director in 1976 for his film Semalam di Malaysia. He has been involved in 33 feature film productions since his debut in Fred Young's Dibalik Awan in 1963.
The Citra Award for Best Actor is an award given at the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) to Indonesian actors for their achievements in leading roles. The Citra Awards, described by Screen International as "Indonesia's equivalent to the Oscars", are the country's most prestigious film awards and are intended to recognize achievements in films as well as to draw public interest to the film industry.
Basoeki Resobowo was an Indonesian painter. Born to a transmigrant father in Sumatra, from a young age he showed interest in the visual arts but was taught to be a teacher. After a short time at a Taman Siswa school in Batavia, he studied design and worked as a surveyor while producing sketches and book covers. He only acted in a single film, Kedok Ketawa, but remained close to the acting community, first as a set designer during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies then for Perfini in the early 1950s.
Amoroso Katamsi was an Indonesian actor and artist. He is well known by Penumpasan Pengkhianatan G 30 S PKI created in 1982 by director, Arifin C. Noer and by Djakarta 1966 supported by Umar Kayam with same director. He became chief of PARFI.
The Citra Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award given at the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) to Indonesian actors for their achievements in a supporting role. The Citra Awards, described by Screen International as "Indonesia's equivalent to the Oscars", are the country's most prestigious film awards and are intended to recognize achievements in films as well as to draw public interest to the film industry.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
