Hanung Bramantyo
Encyclopedia
Setiawan Hanung Bramantyo (born 1 October 1975), better known as Hanung Bramantyo, is an Indonesian director known for his films ranging from teen romances to religious dramas.
After becoming interested in theatre as a child, Bramantyo made his directorial debut with the 1998 short film Tlutur. He made his feature length debut in 2004, with Brownies. After making several commercial films, he directed the 2008 religious romance Ayat-Ayat Cinta, which was a critical and commercial success. Since then he has directed several more films with religious themes, as well as two sports-related ones.
Bramantyo's works have been noted as covering a variety of genres and political ideologies, with most of his early works being teen romances while his more recent works have been religious dramas. He has also seen controversy for his portrayal of Islam. However, his films have received numerous awards, including two Citra Awards for Best Director at the Indonesian Film Festival
.
, Yogyakarta on 1 October 1975 to leather importer Salim Purnomo and his wife Mulyani; he is the oldest of five children. He did his schooling in Muhammadiyah
-run schools there. While in grade school, he became interested in theatre; in his high school years, he performed Samuel Beckett
's satire Waiting for Godot
with his troop. After dropping out from the economics program of the Islamic University of Indonesia
, Bramantyo studied at the Yogyakarta Educational and Teaching Institute (IKIP Yogyakarta). After dropping out, he moved to Jakarta
, where he studied at the Jakarta Art Institute.
Bramantyo released his first short film, Tlutur, in 1998. It dealt with a dancer whose leg was broken by an Indonesian Communist Party member. This was followed by the television film Gelas-gelas Berdenting (Tinkling Glass) Although initially reluctant to commercial films due to peer pressure in Yogyakarta, he later drifted towards more mainstream films.
Starting with 2004's Brownies, Bramantyo's first commercial films were romantic and teen dramas. Films released during this period include Catatan Akhir Sekolah (Notes from the End of School; 2005), Jomblo (Single; 2005), the horror film Lentera Merah (Red Lantern; 2006), Kamulah Satu-Satunya (You Are the One and Only; 2007), Legenda Sundel Bolong (Legend of Sundel Bolong; 2007), and Get Married (2007).
In 2008, Bramantyo directed the Islamic romance Ayat-Ayat Cinta (Verses of Love), based on the novel of the same name by Habiburrahman El Shirazy. The film, seen by 1.5 million in its first 9 days, has been credited with starting a wave of other Islamic-themed movies. Other Islam-themed films he has directed include 2009's Perempuan Berkalung Sorban (The Girl With the Keffiyeh Around Her Neck) and 2010's Sang Pencerah (The Enlightener), a biopic of Muhammadiyah
founder Ahmad Dahlan
.
In January 2010, Bramantyo was called as a witness in relation to a Ponzi scheme
run by Lihan. One of Bramantyo's films, Asmaul Husna, was reported to have used profits from the scam.
In 2011, Bramantyo released ?
, which follows three families from different religious backgrounds and carries a pluralist message. Later that year, he released two sports films: the football themed Tendangan dari Langit (A Kick from Heaven), and Pengejar Angin (The Wind Chaser), a film sponsored by the South Sumatra
n government meant to promote the 2011 Southeast Asian Games
. , he is working on a film adaptation of Dewi Lestari's novel Perahu Kertas (Paper Boat).
, Bramantyo stated that he would prefer to be known as a director who "fights against stupidity and ignorance", and does not feel that he is a religious filmmaker.
Evi Mariani of The Jakarta Post
notes that Bramantyo's films have been on both sides of the political spectrum
, with his right-wing
films more commercially successful. Bramantyo himself has said that he is "fascinated" with leftist ideology. In 2006, The Jakarta Post reported that he was working on a script based on Umar Kayam
's short story Bawuk, which deals with the love between a Javanese woman and her leftist husband.
also drew controversy, being disqualified as not fulfilling the criteria without further comment. ? received criticism from several religious groups, including the Islamic Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam), Indonesian Ulema Council
(Majelis Ulama Indonesia) and Banser (part of Nahdlatul Ulama) for its themes of pluralism and depictions of terrorism. However, Pengejar Angin received criticism as being overly promotional and commercialized.
Bramantyo tends to downplay controversy. In response to the criticism over ?, he initially tweeted
that the protests were free promotion; later cutting several scenes under increased pressure. Later that year, he responded to criticism of Pengejar Angin by stating that the additional funding allowed him to tell a "local story" with a high quality film.
. He has also won several Citra Awards from the Indonesian Film Festival
. Brownies won Citra Award for Best Director in 2005, with Get Married doing the same in 2007.
on 14 September 2009. Together they have one child.
After becoming interested in theatre as a child, Bramantyo made his directorial debut with the 1998 short film Tlutur. He made his feature length debut in 2004, with Brownies. After making several commercial films, he directed the 2008 religious romance Ayat-Ayat Cinta, which was a critical and commercial success. Since then he has directed several more films with religious themes, as well as two sports-related ones.
Bramantyo's works have been noted as covering a variety of genres and political ideologies, with most of his early works being teen romances while his more recent works have been religious dramas. He has also seen controversy for his portrayal of Islam. However, his films have received numerous awards, including two Citra Awards for Best Director at the Indonesian Film Festival
Indonesian Film Festival
Festival Film Indonesia or known as FFI is an annual film festival organised by Indonesian Film Festival Committee...
.
Biography
Bramantyo was born in YogyakartaYogyakarta (city)
Yogyakarta is a city in the Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. It is renowned as a centre of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Yogyakarta was the Indonesian capital during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to...
, Yogyakarta on 1 October 1975 to leather importer Salim Purnomo and his wife Mulyani; he is the oldest of five children. He did his schooling in Muhammadiyah
Muhammadiyah
Muhammadiyah is an Islamic organization in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah, literally means "followers of Muhammad"...
-run schools there. While in grade school, he became interested in theatre; in his high school years, he performed Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
's satire Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot is an absurdist play by Samuel Beckett, in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly and in vain for someone named Godot to arrive. Godot's absence, as well as numerous other aspects of the play, have led to many different interpretations since the play's...
with his troop. After dropping out from the economics program of the Islamic University of Indonesia
Islamic University of Indonesia
The Islamic University of Indonesia is a private university located in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It was established in 27 Rajab 1364 or in 8 July 1945 as STI by some leading political figures of the day including Dr...
, Bramantyo studied at the Yogyakarta Educational and Teaching Institute (IKIP Yogyakarta). After dropping out, he moved to Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, where he studied at the Jakarta Art Institute.
Bramantyo released his first short film, Tlutur, in 1998. It dealt with a dancer whose leg was broken by an Indonesian Communist Party member. This was followed by the television film Gelas-gelas Berdenting (Tinkling Glass) Although initially reluctant to commercial films due to peer pressure in Yogyakarta, he later drifted towards more mainstream films.
Starting with 2004's Brownies, Bramantyo's first commercial films were romantic and teen dramas. Films released during this period include Catatan Akhir Sekolah (Notes from the End of School; 2005), Jomblo (Single; 2005), the horror film Lentera Merah (Red Lantern; 2006), Kamulah Satu-Satunya (You Are the One and Only; 2007), Legenda Sundel Bolong (Legend of Sundel Bolong; 2007), and Get Married (2007).
In 2008, Bramantyo directed the Islamic romance Ayat-Ayat Cinta (Verses of Love), based on the novel of the same name by Habiburrahman El Shirazy. The film, seen by 1.5 million in its first 9 days, has been credited with starting a wave of other Islamic-themed movies. Other Islam-themed films he has directed include 2009's Perempuan Berkalung Sorban (The Girl With the Keffiyeh Around Her Neck) and 2010's Sang Pencerah (The Enlightener), a biopic of Muhammadiyah
Muhammadiyah
Muhammadiyah is an Islamic organization in Indonesia. Muhammadiyah, literally means "followers of Muhammad"...
founder Ahmad Dahlan
Ahmad Dahlan
Kyai Haji Ahmad Dahlan , born Muhammad Darwis, was an Indonesian Islamic revivalist who established Muhammadiyah in 1912.-Education:...
.
In January 2010, Bramantyo was called as a witness in relation to a Ponzi scheme
Ponzi scheme
A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to its investors from their own money or the money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned by the individual or organization running the operation...
run by Lihan. One of Bramantyo's films, Asmaul Husna, was reported to have used profits from the scam.
In 2011, Bramantyo released ?
? (film)
? is a 2011 Indonesian film directed by Hanung Bramantyo. It stars Revalina Sayuthi Temat, Reza Rahadian, Agus Kuncoro, Endhita, Rio Dewanto, and Hengky Sulaeman. The plot revolves around the interactions of three families, one Buddhist, one Muslim, and one Catholic...
, which follows three families from different religious backgrounds and carries a pluralist message. Later that year, he released two sports films: the football themed Tendangan dari Langit (A Kick from Heaven), and Pengejar Angin (The Wind Chaser), a film sponsored by the South Sumatra
South Sumatra
South Sumatra is a province of Indonesia.-Geography:It is on the island of Sumatra, and borders the provinces of Lampung to the south, Bengkulu to the west, and Jambi to the north...
n government meant to promote the 2011 Southeast Asian Games
2011 Southeast Asian Games
The 26th Southeast Asian Games was held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia on 11 until 22 November 2011. Indonesia's fourth time to host the SEA Games, it last hosted the Games in 1997...
. , he is working on a film adaptation of Dewi Lestari's novel Perahu Kertas (Paper Boat).
Themes
Bramantyo's early works were romantic comedies. His more recent films have been noted as dealing with religion's role in a modern world. In an interview with the Jakarta GlobeJakarta Globe
The Jakarta Globe is a daily English language newspaper in Indonesia, launched on November 12, 2008.The paper averages 48 pages a day, and publishes Monday to Saturday...
, Bramantyo stated that he would prefer to be known as a director who "fights against stupidity and ignorance", and does not feel that he is a religious filmmaker.
Evi Mariani of The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post is a daily English language newspaper in Indonesia. The paper is owned by PT Bina Media Tenggara, and the head office is in the nation's capital, Jakarta....
notes that Bramantyo's films have been on both sides of the political spectrum
Political spectrum
A political spectrum is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes symbolizing independent political dimensions....
, with his right-wing
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
films more commercially successful. Bramantyo himself has said that he is "fascinated" with leftist ideology. In 2006, The Jakarta Post reported that he was working on a script based on Umar Kayam
Umar Kayam
Umar Kayam was an Indonesian sociologist and writer born in Ngawi, East Java, on April 30, 1932 and died on March 16, 2002. He followed education in Hollands Inlands School Mangkunegoro, Surakarta, where his father also taught. After that, he continued his education to MULO, then continued the...
's short story Bawuk, which deals with the love between a Javanese woman and her leftist husband.
Controversy
Several of Bramantyo's films have stirred controversy for how they deal with religion. Ayat-Ayat Cinta received criticism for having one of the main characters, Maria, convert from Christianity to Islam. Perempuan Berkalung Sorban was criticized by Muslim clerics, while the nomination of Sang Pencerah for best film at the Indonesian Film FestivalIndonesian Film Festival
Festival Film Indonesia or known as FFI is an annual film festival organised by Indonesian Film Festival Committee...
also drew controversy, being disqualified as not fulfilling the criteria without further comment. ? received criticism from several religious groups, including the Islamic Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam), Indonesian Ulema Council
Indonesian Ulema Council
Indonesian Ulema Council is Indonesia's top Muslim clerical body. The council comprises all Indonesian Muslim groups including Nahdlatul Ulama , Muhammadiyah, and the more subtle name like Persis, Al Irsyad, Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia , Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia , Forum Ulama Umat Islam and the...
(Majelis Ulama Indonesia) and Banser (part of Nahdlatul Ulama) for its themes of pluralism and depictions of terrorism. However, Pengejar Angin received criticism as being overly promotional and commercialized.
Bramantyo tends to downplay controversy. In response to the criticism over ?, he initially tweeted
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
that the protests were free promotion; later cutting several scenes under increased pressure. Later that year, he responded to criticism of Pengejar Angin by stating that the additional funding allowed him to tell a "local story" with a high quality film.
Awards
Bramantyo has won numerous award. His directorial debut, Tlutur, won first prize at the Jakarta Arts Council's Alternative Film Festival. Gelas-gelas Berdenting (Tinkling Glass) won third prize for television programming at the 11th Cairo International Film FestivalCairo International Film Festival
The Cairo International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 1976 and was the first international film festival held in the Arab world...
. He has also won several Citra Awards from the Indonesian Film Festival
Indonesian Film Festival
Festival Film Indonesia or known as FFI is an annual film festival organised by Indonesian Film Festival Committee...
. Brownies won Citra Award for Best Director in 2005, with Get Married doing the same in 2007.
Personal life
Bramantyo has been married twice. His first marriage was to Yanesthi Hardini, with whom he had one child. The pair divorced in early 2009. He later married to Indonesian soap opera actress Zaskia Adya MeccaZaskia Adya Mecca
Zaskia Adya Mecca was born in Jakarta on September 8, 1987. She is an Indonesian actress.-Career:Mecca started her career as a model. Because of her success as a model, she moved to television acting as a support player in Bidadari...
on 14 September 2009. Together they have one child.
Feature and television films
- Topeng Kekasih (The Lover's Mask; 2000)
- Gelas-Gelas Berdenting (Tinkling Glass; 2001)
- Brownies (2004)
- Catatan Akhir Sekolah (Notes from the End of School; 2005)
- Sayekti dan Hanafi (Sayekti and Hanafi; 2005)
- Jomblo (Single; 2005)
- Lentera Merah (Red Lantern; 2006)
- Kamulah Satu-SatunyaKamulah Satu-SatunyaKamulah Satu-Satunya is a 2007 Indonesian comedy film directed by Hanung Bramantyo and starring Nirina Zubir and Didi Petet. The film premiered on July 12, 2007 in Jakarta.-Cast:*Nirina Zubir as Indah*Dennis Adhiswara*Fanny Fadillah...
(You Are the One and Only; 2007) - Legenda Sundel Bolong (Legend of Sundel Bolong; 2007)
- Get Married (2007)
- Ayat-Ayat Cinta (The Verses of Love; 2008)
- Doa yang Mengancam (Threatening Prayer; 2008)
- Perempuan Berkalung Sorban (The Girl With the Keffiyeh Around Her Neck; 2009)
- Get Married 2 (2009)
- Menebus Impian (Make Dreams Real; 2010)
- Sang Pencerah (The Enlightener; 2010)
- ?? (film)? is a 2011 Indonesian film directed by Hanung Bramantyo. It stars Revalina Sayuthi Temat, Reza Rahadian, Agus Kuncoro, Endhita, Rio Dewanto, and Hengky Sulaeman. The plot revolves around the interactions of three families, one Buddhist, one Muslim, and one Catholic...
(2011) - Tendangan dari Langit (A Kick from Heaven; 2011)
- Pengejar Angin (The Wind Chaser; 2011)