H Lembu Amiluhur Priyawardhana Priyono (23 October 1939 – 6 June 2001[1]), generally referred to as Ami Prijono (Perfected Spelling: Ami Priyono) was an Indonesian film director and actor. He was married to the feminist writer Julia Suryakusuma.
Biography
Born in Batavia (now Jakarta) on 23 October 1939, Ami was the only child of Priyono, a politician-cum-educator who later became Minister of Education and Culture, and his wife Iwanah. After graduating from senior high school Ami left for Moscow, where he studied cinema at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography.[2][3][4]
After returning to Indonesia Ami began teaching at the National Theatre Academy in Jakarta.[4] In 1968 he joined the domestic film industry, taking the role of artistic director in Djampang Mentjari Naga Hitam (Djampang Seeks the Black Dragon). He made his acting debut two years later in Tuan Tanah Kedawung as a supporting actor.[2] In 1974 he married feminist writer Julia Suryakusuma.[5]
At the 1974 Indonesian Film Festival Ami's artistic direction in Ambisi (Ambition) garnered him a Citra Award.[2] That year he made his directorial debut with Dewi. His other film directed that year, Karmila, was adapted from the novel of the same name by Marga T. The film – the second most lucrative Indonesian movie of the year – is credited with generating interest in film adaptations over the following decade.[6] He went on to become one of four directors to dominate the local film industry in the 1970s.[7] After Lonceng Maut (Bell of Doom) in 1976 Ami abandoned artistic direction, focusing on his acting and directing.[3][8]
In 1977 Ami released Jakarta Jakarta.[8] Focusing on the miserable daily lives of the capital's inhabitants, the film won five Citra Awards at the 1978 Indonesian Film Festival in Ujungpandang, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay (shared with N. Riantiarno).[2] In 2009 Ben Murtaugh of SOAS, University of London, described the film as "a fascinating portrayal of [Jakarta] during the 1970s".[9]
Ami's Roro Mendut, released in 1982, gave him his greatest international recognition.[3] The film, which was based on an Indonesian legend and written by Y. B. Mangunwijaya, garnered him another Best Director nomination at the 1983 Indonesian Film Festival;[10][11] he lost to Teguh Karya, director of Di Balik Kelambu.[12] Ami received another nomination the following year for Yang, but lost to Sjumandjaja of Budak Nafsu.[13] He directed his final film, Jodoh Boleh Diatur (Love can be Arranged), in 1988.[3]
With the number of domestic film productions decreasing in the early 1990s, Ami left the cinema and began directing and acting for television, beginning with Salah Asuhan (Wrong Upbringing; 1994; as director[14]) and Pedang Keadilan (Sword of Justice; 1996).[2] During this period he served on the juries of several film festivals, including the Indonesian Serial Festival (Festival Sinetron Indonesia, 1994 and 1996), the Asia Pacific Film Festival (1995), and the Fukuoka International Film Festival (1996).[3] He died on 6 June 2001, after several years of ill health.[3][15]
Filmography
Ami acted in 34 films and was a crew member in 22. He directed twelve movies.[8]
Cast
Tuan Tanah Kedawung (1970)
Beranak dalam Kubur (1971)
Mama (1972)
Si Bongkok (1972)
Anjing-Anjing Geladak (1972)
Laki-Laki Pilihan (1973)
Ita Si Anak Pungut (Nobody's Child) (1973)
Romi dan Juli (1974)
Christina (1977)
Ombaknya Laut Mabuknya Cinta (1978)
Kasus (Kegagalan Cinta) (1978)
Roda-Roda Gila (1978)
Ali Topan Detektif Partikelir Turun ke Jalan (1979)
Jang Djatuh Dikaki Lelaki (1971) – as artistic director
Matinja Seorang Bidadari (1971) – as artistic director
Anjing-Anjing Geladak (1972) – as artistic director
Laki-Laki Pilihan (1973) – as artistic director
Ambisi (1973) – as artistic director
Ita Si Anak Pungut (Nobody's Child) (1973) – as artistic director
Dewi (1974) – as director
Karmila (1974) – as director
Semalam di Malaysia (1975) – as artistic director
Lonceng Maut (1976) – as artistic director
Kampus Biru (1976) – as director and scriptwriter
Kenangan Desember (1976) – as director
Jakarta Jakarta (1977) – as director, scriptwriter, and story writer
Dr Siti Pertiwi Kembali ke Desa (1979) – as director
Untukmu Indonesiaku (1980) – as director
Bukan Impian Semusim (1981) – as director
Roro Mendut (1982) – as director
Yang (1983) – as director
Pertunangan (1985) – as director
Jodoh Boleh Diatur (1988) – as director
References
^"Ami Priyono". jakarta.go.id. Dinas Komunikasi, Informatika dan Kehumasan Pemprov DKI Jakarta. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
"Ami Priyono". Encyclopedia of Jakarta (in Indonesian). Jakarta City Government. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
"Filmografi Lembu Amiluhur Priyawardhana Priyono" [Filmography for Lembu Amiluhur Priyawardhana Priyono]. Filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
"Indonesian Movie Gems". The Jakarta Post. 29 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
"Karmila". filmindonesia.or.id. Jakarta: Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
"Penghargaan Di Balik Kelambu" [Awards for Di Balik Kelambu]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 August 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
"Penghargaan Roro Mendut" [Awards for Roro Mendut]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
"Penghargaan Yang" [Awards for Yang]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
"Roro Mendut". filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Konfiden Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
Sen, Krishna (2006). "'Chinese' Indonesians in National Cinema". In Sun, Wanning (ed.). Media and the Chinese Diaspora: Community, Communications and Commerce. London: Routledge. pp. 119–136. ISBN978-0-415-35204-8.
