Usmar Ismail

Biography

Usmar Ismail (born March 20, 1921 - January 2, 1971) was an Indonesian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is dubbed the godfather of Indonesian films. The date of Indonesia's National Film Day (March 30), is dated from the first day of shooting Darah dan Doa (1950), Ismail's third film. His talents further developed while working at Keimin Bunka Sidosho (the Japanese Cultural Center Headquarters). There, he collaborated with Armijn Pane and other cultural figures to stage theatrical performances. In 1943, he founded and became the chairman of the theater group Sandiwara Penggemar "Maya" along with Abu Hanifah, Rosihan Anwar, Cornel Simanjuntak, Sudjojono, H.B. Jassin, and others. After the proclamation of independence, Usmar served in the military and became actively involved in journalism in Jakarta. When the Dutch returned with Allied forces, he joined the Indonesian National Army (TNI) in Yogyakarta with the rank of major. Along with his colleagues Sjamsuddin Sutan Makmur and Rinto Alwi, they established a newspaper named Rakyat. In the field of editorial work and journalism, Usmar was one of the founders and editors of Harian Patriot, the editor of the monthly ma…

Directed

1. After the Curfew (1954) — Director
2. Bali (1970) — Director
3. The Three Maidens (1956) — Director
4. The Struggle (1960) — Director
5. Six Hours in Djogja (1951) — Director
6. Victim of Slander (1959) — Director
7. The Long March (1950) — Director
8. Exalted Guest (1955) — Director
9. Girl's Dormitory (1958) — Director
10. The Big Village (1969) — Director
11. Harta Karun (1949) — Director
12. Tjitra (1949) — Director
13. Kafedo (1953) — Director
14. Sengketa (1957) — Director
15. Delapan Pendjuru Angin (1957) — Director
16. The Artist's Holiday (1965) — Director
17. Krisis (1953) — Director
18. Laruik Sandjo (1960) — Director
19. Toha, Pahlawan Bandung Selatan (1961) — Director
20. Anak-anak Revolusi (1964) — Director
21. Ja Mualim (1968) — Director
22. Unforgivable Sin (1951) — Director
23. Shadows at Dawn (1962) — Director
24. Ananda (1970) — Director
25. The Virgin in the Robbers' Nest (1962) — Director
26. Lagi-Lagi Krisis (1955) — Director
27. Amor dan Humor (1961) — Director

Also appeared in

1. The Three Maidens (1956) — Tamsil