News
Indonesian former president Gus Dur set for big screen debut
NU Online · Rabu, 4 Agustus 2010 | 23:12 WIB
Jakarta, NU Online
From the writer who brought you the movie about US President Barack Obama’s childhood in Central Jakarta comes the latest rushed-into-production biopic: “Gus Dur: The Movie.”
Damien Dematra, who researched and wrote “ Obama Anak Menteng ” (“Obama the Menteng Kid”) in just 10 days before hashing out a screenplay for what would turn out to be a critical and box office flop, said on Wednesday he would soon direct his next project, which chronicles the life of the late former president KH Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid. />
He added he was now casting actors to play the young Gus Dur.
“I’ve already cast Handoyo for the role of the adult Gus Dur,” Damien told the Jakarta Globe, referring to the actor whose credits included a stint as a Gus Dur parody in the short-lived but popular television show “ Republik Mimpi ” (“Republic of Dreams”).
Damien said he had initially planned to release the movie on what would have been Gus Dur’s 70th birthday on Aug. 4, but fell behind schedule in production.
He added that the former president’s widow, Shinta Nuriyah, would have a role in the movie.
Damien claimed he began writing the screenplay in September 2009, three months before Gus Dur’s death.
“I had the opportunity to consult with him on the screenplay, and after he passed away, his wife helped me with the story,” he said.
He added part of the screenplay was based on his unauthorized biography of the former leader of the powerful Nahdlatul Ulama, titled “ Sejuta Hati Untuk Gus Dur ” (“A Million Hearts for Gus Dur”), which he launched in January after, again, hashing it out in only three days.
“At the book launch, I discussed my plans for the movie with Gus Dur’s family,” he said.
“The first half of the movie covers his childhood, his marriage and his ascension to the presidency. The second half will focus on his time in power.”
Damien said the movie would carry a message of pluralism, which the late cleric espoused, and the importance of nurturing that value from an early age.
“Gus Dur’s tolerant views should be attributed to his parents — particularly his father,” he said.
Meanwhile, Damien is also busy with another movie, “ Si Anak Kampung ” (“The Kampung Kid”), based on the childhood of Ahmad Syafi’i Ma’arif, the respected former chairman of Muhammadiyah. He said his experiences producing this movie and the Obama movie would prepare him for doing a better job on the Gus Dur biopic.
“The Ma’arif movie took longer than the Obama movie,” he said. “We started production in April, in parallel with the Obama movie, and we hope to have it in theaters by the end of this year.”
According to Damien, the Gus Dur movie would do better than the Obama one.
“The Obama movie was only about one year of his life in Indonesia, but the Gus Dur movie will be more epic,” he said. (dar)
From the writer who brought you the movie about US President Barack Obama’s childhood in Central Jakarta comes the latest rushed-into-production biopic: “Gus Dur: The Movie.”
Damien Dematra, who researched and wrote “ Obama Anak Menteng ” (“Obama the Menteng Kid”) in just 10 days before hashing out a screenplay for what would turn out to be a critical and box office flop, said on Wednesday he would soon direct his next project, which chronicles the life of the late former president KH Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid.
He added he was now casting actors to play the young Gus Dur.
“I’ve already cast Handoyo for the role of the adult Gus Dur,” Damien told the Jakarta Globe, referring to the actor whose credits included a stint as a Gus Dur parody in the short-lived but popular television show “ Republik Mimpi ” (“Republic of Dreams”).
Damien said he had initially planned to release the movie on what would have been Gus Dur’s 70th birthday on Aug. 4, but fell behind schedule in production.
He added that the former president’s widow, Shinta Nuriyah, would have a role in the movie.
Damien claimed he began writing the screenplay in September 2009, three months before Gus Dur’s death.
“I had the opportunity to consult with him on the screenplay, and after he passed away, his wife helped me with the story,” he said.
He added part of the screenplay was based on his unauthorized biography of the former leader of the powerful Nahdlatul Ulama, titled “ Sejuta Hati Untuk Gus Dur ” (“A Million Hearts for Gus Dur”), which he launched in January after, again, hashing it out in only three days.
“At the book launch, I discussed my plans for the movie with Gus Dur’s family,” he said.
“The first half of the movie covers his childhood, his marriage and his ascension to the presidency. The second half will focus on his time in power.”
Damien said the movie would carry a message of pluralism, which the late cleric espoused, and the importance of nurturing that value from an early age.
“Gus Dur’s tolerant views should be attributed to his parents — particularly his father,” he said.
Meanwhile, Damien is also busy with another movie, “ Si Anak Kampung ” (“The Kampung Kid”), based on the childhood of Ahmad Syafi’i Ma’arif, the respected former chairman of Muhammadiyah. He said his experiences producing this movie and the Obama movie would prepare him for doing a better job on the Gus Dur biopic.
“The Ma’arif movie took longer than the Obama movie,” he said. “We started production in April, in parallel with the Obama movie, and we hope to have it in theaters by the end of this year.”
According to Damien, the Gus Dur movie would do better than the Obama one.
“The Obama movie was only about one year of his life in Indonesia, but the Gus Dur movie will be more epic,” he said. (dar)
Terpopuler
1
Tanggapan Rais Syuriyah PCNU Pemalang atas Bentrok FPI dengan PWI-LS
2
Ini Doa Memasuki Bulan Shafar, Lengkap dengan Transliterasi dan Terjemahnya
3
Mustasyar PBNU Serukan Pentingnya Nahdliyin Jaga Pemahaman Islam Moderat di Masyarakat
4
PBNU Akan Luncurkan Penulisan Sejarah NU Jilid Pertama pada Peringatan Satu Abad Masehi 31 Januari 2026
5
RMINU Jabar Dorong Pemprov Tindak Lanjuti Evaluasi Hibah Pesantren
6
Salah Kaprah Memaknai Uang Haram sebagai Rezeki
Terkini
Lihat Semua
