Kabut Sutra Ungu

Kabut Sutra Ungu
Poster
Directed bySjumandjaja
Written bySjumandjaja
Based onKabut Sutra Ungu
by Ike Soepomo
Produced bySjumandjaja
Starring
CinematographyLeo Fioole
Edited byJanis Badar
Music bySudharnoto
Production
company
Matari Artis Jaya Film
Release date
  • 1979 (1979)
Running time
127 minutes
CountryIndonesia
LanguageIndonesian

Kabut Sutra Ungu (literally Mist of Purple Silk) is a 1979 Indonesian film directed by Sjumandjaja and starring Jenny Rachman, Roy Marten, and El Manik. Adopted from the novel of the same name by Ike Soepomo, it follows a young widow who must overcome various obstacles before marrying again.

Plot

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Miranti (Jenny Rachman) is left a widow after her pilot husband dies in an accident. She forces herself to work independently, despite feeling alienated. She soon learns that her brother-in-law Dimas (Roy Marten) cares greatly for her. Miranti ultimately realises that his feelings are more than just pity, and the two can unite.

Production

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Kabut Sutra Ungu was produced and directed by Sjumandjaja. It was his first film in over a year, following Yang Muda Yang Bercinta (The Young Fall in Love; 1978); the film's extended issues with the Indonesian censorship bureau, as well as his own poor health, had led Sjumandjaja to take a hiatus.[1]

Sjumandjaja adapted the screenplay from the novel of the same name by Ike Soepomo, who had recently made her debut. Although he had previously heard his friends praise the novel, he first read it when an attendant on a train offered him a selection of books as reading material. Ultimately Sjumandjaja put a planned film on the Wali Songo on hold and began an adaptation. Production began in October 1979.[1]

The film, made for Matari Artis Jaya Film, saw Leo Fioole on camera and Berthy I Lindia as artistic director. In post-production Sudharnoto handled music while Suparman Sidik did sound. The film was edited by Janis Badar.[2]

The film starred Jenny Rachman and Roy Marten, with other roles handled by actors including El Manik, Sys NS, Ami Priyono, Farouk Afero, and Chitra Dewi.[2] Rachman, then rising in popularity, refused several offers so that she could take a role in Kabut Sutra Ungu.[1]

Release and reception

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Kabut Sutra Ungu was released in 1979. It proved the year's most popular Indonesian film, seeing almost half a million viewers in Jakarta.[3] A review in Berita Yudha found the film to be well done, despite having extensive dialogue and Westernised symbolism. The reviewer considered the film to express the concerns faced by widows in Indonesia at the time.[4]

Awards

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Kabut Sutra Ungu was nominated for seven Citra Awards at the 1980 Indonesian Film Festival, winning four; the festival also gave the film a special award as for showing a psychological change in society.[5] Two of the awards it lost – Best Director and Best Screenplay – went to Frank Rorimpandey's Perawan Desa, while Best Supporting Actor went to Hassan Sanusi of Rembulan dan Matahari.[6][7] Kabut Sutra Ungu also received an award for Best Actress at that year's Asia Pacific Film Festival. In 1981 it won the Antemas Award for being the best-selling film of the preceding year.[5]

Award Year Category Recipient Result
Indonesian Film Festival 1980 Best Director Sjumandjaja Nominated
Best Screenplay Sjumandjaja 2nd place
Best Leading Actress Jenny Rachman Won
Best Supporting Actor El Hakim Nominated
Best Cinematography Leo Fioole Won
Best Sound Editing Norman Benny Won
Best Musical Direction Sudharnoto Won
Asia Pacific Film Festival 1980 Best Leading Actress Jenny Rachman Won
Indonesian Film Festival 1981 Best-Selling Film Won

Footnotes

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Works cited

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  • Chan, Anis (1979). "Sumanjaya Aktip Kembali" [Sumanjaya Active Again]. Vista (in Indonesian). X (475): 20–21.
  • "Kabut Sutra Ungu". filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  • "Ketersandungan Problematis Sumanjaya" [Sumanjaya's Problematic Stumble]. Berita Yudha Minggu (in Indonesian). 26 October 1980. pp. VI–VII.
  • "Kredit Kabut Sutra Ungu" [Credits for Kabut Sutra Ungu]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  • "Penghargaan Kabut Sutra Ungu" [Awards for Kabut Sutra Ungu]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  • "Penghargaan Perawan Desa" [Awards for Perawan Desa]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  • "Rembulan dan Matahari" [Awards for Rembulan dan Matahari]. filmindonesia.or.id (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
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