Arifin C. Noer

Arifin Chairin Noer (10 March 1941 – 28 May 1995) was an Indonesian poet, theater director and film producer.

Biography He studied Civil Administration at in Yogyakarta, Central Java and began his theatrical career in the early 1960s as an actor in a study group in Central Java with W.S. Rendra. After finishing his degree in 1967, he moved to Jakarta and founded Teater Kecil (Little Theater), a laboratory where he and other actors could experiment using the workshop model, emphasizing the whole person, as introduced by W.S. Rendra, but Noer was focused on the practical aspect of cultivating acting skills. According to the Columbia Encyclopedia of Modern Drama, he was a prolific playwright and director from the 1970s until his death in 1995, directing all of his original plays including his best-known work, Kapai-Kapai ("Reaching Out"; translated as "Moths" in English) in 1970.

In 1972–73, he participated in the Iowa Writers' Workshop, an international writing program in the United States.

He received the S.E.A. Write Award in 1990. Two years later, his film Bibir Mer (Mer's Lips) was submitted for consideration as the Indonesian entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

His most notable poetry works include Selamat Pagi Jajang (1979) and a collection of poetry published after his death, Nyanyian Sepi (1995).

Selected written works

Selected filmography

Rio Anakku (Rio, My Child; 1973) Melawan Badai (Fighting the Storm; 1974) Suci Sang Primadona (Suci the Prima Donna; 1977) Petualang-Petualang (Wanderings; 1978) Yuyun Pasien Rumah Sakit Jiwa (Yuyun in the Mental Hospital; 1979) Harmonikaku (My Harmonica; 1979) Serangan Fajar (Dawn Attack; 1981) Djakarta 1966 (1982; released 1988) Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI – 1984 Matahari Matahari (The Sun; 1985) Biarkan Bulan Itu (Let the Moon...; 1986) Taksi (Taxi; 1990) Bibir Mer (Mer's Lips; 1991) Tasi oh Tasi (1992)