Misbach Yusa Biran

Writing

Misbach Yusa Biran

Born 1933-09-22 · Rangkasbitung, Banten, Indonesia

Misbach Yusa Biran was an Indonesian film historian, director, and screenwriter. He was the head of Sinematek Indonesia since October 1975 up until his death. Misbach passed away in April 2012.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Pradjurit Teladan

1959

No artwork available
NR

Dulkafar, leaves his hometown for three and a half years after his parents are murdered, and has now returned for vengeance. With his whip of fire, he defeats criminals while searching for the murderer of his parents. He also disguises himself as a “buaya Keroncong” or an expert singer in Keroncong music. His efforts finally pay off when he finds a woman wearing his mother’s necklace.

Angkara Murka

1972

No artwork available
NR

Rafiq is a dangdut singer who comes to Jakarta to advance his career. Parto, his friend from the same village tries to represent him to different recording companies. But they differ because of Rafiq’s naivete and Parto’s city-style plus Parto’s insistence on pop music, and Rafiq’s dedication to dangdut. So their conflict is resolved by a music expert and student, Norma, who is researching dangdut music, and who eventually becomes Rafiq’s girlfriend. But the person who manages to get Rafiq a record deal is Lily, whom Rafiq meets when working in a car shop. Finally, Rafiq gains Norma’s hand when her parents approve their relationship.

Karena Dia

1979

Lingkaran Setan poster
NR

The colonial court sentenced Tohir harshly on 22 September 1938. The sentence is made harsher because the prosecutor, Hasan, discriminates more on Tohir’s lineage than his crime. But in fact, Tohir commits his crime out of necessity as his wife is pregnant and about to give birth. He is sentenced to hard labor in exile so when he finds out that his wife and child are dead, Tohir escapes and kidnaps Hasan’s son, Husin. He raises the son in a life of crime, but lives like a respectable man. Husin also lives a double life. He is loved by an innocent girl in the village, but in other places, he plays around with women. In his old age, Tohir becomes a drunk and then he finds out that the government has awarded Hasan for his services. He uses Husin, nicknamed Boy, to avenge himself by sending him to rob Hasan’s house. Husin fails and is sent to trial. There, while drunk, Tohir reveals who Husin really is. Hasan and his wife then welcome Husin back.

Lingkaran Setan

1972

Fatahillah poster
NR

Disappointed after seeing his homeland, Pasai, destroyed by the Portuguese, Fadhilah Khan, later known as Fatahillah or Fala Tehan, completes his education in the Holy Land, then joins Sultan Trenggono who rules the Sultanate of Demak. He gains a respectable position as a cleric, then marries the sister of the Emperor, Ratu Pembayun, and Ratu Ayu, the widow of Pati Unus, who died in the battle against the Portuguese in Malacca. The Portuguese want to establish a fort at Sunda Kelapa. But the Sultanate of Demak is determined to wage a war against the Portuguese. Fatahillah is elected as the commanding officer, and he conquers Sunda Kelapa, and changes its name to Jayakarta, which later became Jakarta.

Fatahillah

1997

No artwork available
NR

When army intelligence detects an underground movement, Operation X is carried out. Lieutenant Hadi receives a secret mission to penetrate into the underground movement. In order to keep it secret, Hadi breaks up with his girlfriend, Savitri, for the time being. Spies kidnap Savitri as their hostage when Hadi’s dual role is suspected. But then the army moves in to smash the underground movement and rescue Savitri.

Operasi X

1968

No artwork available
NR

When army intelligence detects an underground movement, Operation X is carried out. Lieutenant Hadi receives a secret mission to penetrate into the underground movement. In order to keep it secret, Hadi breaks up with his girlfriend, Savitri, for the time being. Spies kidnap Savitri as their hostage when Hadi’s dual role is suspected. But then the army moves in to smash the underground movement and rescue Savitri.

Operasi X

1968

Lagu Untukmu poster
NR

Containing eight songs, the film is like TV variety show of music and singers. Charma, an architecture student, falls in love with Anita. Thanks to advice from Bagio Sumarto, an old artist, Charma manages to win Anita, even though her mother, who has a royal lineage, considers that an artist would lower the family’s prestige. It was a strange assumption, present at the time of the film’s production. Charma then helps Bagio realise his dream of building a village for artists by staging a big successful show. And Anita turns out to be the daughter of Bagio who has long been separated from his wife.

Lagu Untukmu

1973

No artwork available
NR

While it is uncertain, the film is believed to be inspired by the story of Nyai Dasima, about the terrible fate of a rich widow who ends up as a murder victim because of her wealth.

Saodah

1956

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Pilihan Hati

1964

Naga Merah poster
NR

A anti-narcotics police captain trails a drug dealer to the Philippines.

Naga Merah

1976

No artwork available
NR

Rainang tries to terrorize a corrupt village leader, Ciming, so that he would resign. But Marsan accidentally kills Ciming. As team leader, Rainang is willing to take responsibility (punishment by exile) while Marsan is appointed as the new village leader and Rausin (Rainang’s son) is sent to the Islamic boarding school. When Rausin returns to Kemayoran, the village leader, Marsan, is now a corrupt man. The Dutch reprimand him as the villagers no longer want to sell rice to them. The village leader then assigns Beureum, an assassin, to get rid of Rausin. But Toha and Cicih, the female warrior, support him. Rainang, who is thought to have passed away, appears and intervenes, and in the end, kills Marsan.

The Tiger of Kemayoran

1965

The Little Stars poster
NR

When their children fail to come home, their parents start to worry. Due to their own neglect and unfulfilled promises, the children, Maria and Suzy, are getting some help from an old man, their former teacher, to go to the zoo and other entertainment centers by themselves. When the police are called, the kids are quickly found and returned to the parents, but the teacher is so heavily shaken by this experience that he admits himself to a mental asylum.

The Little Stars

1963

The Little Stars poster
NR

When their children fail to come home, their parents start to worry. Due to their own neglect and unfulfilled promises, the children, Maria and Suzy, are getting some help from an old man, their former teacher, to go to the zoo and other entertainment centers by themselves. When the police are called, the kids are quickly found and returned to the parents, but the teacher is so heavily shaken by this experience that he admits himself to a mental asylum.

The Little Stars

1963

Ayahku poster
NR

Agus leaves his wife and the three children. After many years, Agus wants to return but he has to apologise to his wife and children, namely Anwar, Dani and Aini. But Anwar, the oldest son, who has been supporting his family all these years, rejects him.

Ayahku

1987

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Djumpa Diperjalanan

1961

Krakatau poster
NR

Somad and Biang Terona are sent by their master at Krakatau martial arts school to look for the rebellious student, Bodin, who is Somad’s real father. Bodin manages to marry the wife of a landlord and takes over the wealth but he becomes a dictator. His son, Tirta, also manages to displace Surya as inheritor of Bodin’s wealth. Surya is the son of Tirta’s mother with her previous husband. Finally, Biang Terona defeats Bodin, and Somad reveals that Bodin is his father. The film ends with the eruption of the Krakatau Volcano.

Krakatau

1977

No artwork available
NR

Hamsah is always preoccupied with his business while his wife is busy with her social life. Their daughters; Tuti and Lina, are neglected by them. Lina suffers the most as she is paralyzed, and the doctor does not think that she will improve. So a private teacher is hired for Lina, a university student named Arman. They get along well as Arman is also suffering from the loss of his mother and sister, who died during the revolution. The seeds of love begin to grow, but it happens that Tuti likes him too. Then Arman resolves problem by reuniting Tuti with her ex-boyfriend, Anwar. In the end, Hamzah and his wife realise their mistakes, while Lina and Arman find their “private palace.”

Istana yang Hilang

1960

Bandung Lautan Api poster
NR

Set on 24 March 1946 in Bandung, when the city was engulfed in explosions as if it was a sea of fire, the battle scenes between Indonesian and Dutch dominate the film. The main plot line is the conflict of Nani, a Red Cross nurse, who loves Priyatna, an ex PETA fighter. Meanwhile, Hidayat, the commander of Priyatna’s troop, also likes Nani. It is a small story, within a war, that ends with the death of Hidayat.

Bandung Lautan Api

1974

Hanya Satu Jalan poster
NR

Two businessmen, Burhan and Benny, are rivals and Burhan hires Joko, an ex-convict who is trying to reform. Joko is asked to investigate Benny, through Leila, a hostess that Benny usually goes to. But then Joko and Leila fall in love and things do not go as planned. A accident happens and Leila is shot by Joko. Burhan dies in a car accident while Benny runs away out of the country. The reason of enmity between Burhan and Benny is unclear, nor that of Leila’s role, who knows so much about Benny’s secrets.

Hanya Satu Jalan

1972

Irisan-irisan Hati poster
8.0

Even though he is not a "left wing" student, Nurhadi, nicknamed Hadi, insists on becoming a volunteer in the fight against Malaysia. Wati, his lover, tries to stop him, but fails. She pretends to be pregnant so that Hadi marries her. But Hadi still goes to Malaysia. Hadi’s group is detected by a Malaysian patrol, when they are about to land in Malaysia, which leads to a firefight. Everyone dies except Hadi, who is found unconscious by Latifah at the beach. Hadi is taken care of by Latifah and his father, Somad. He claims that he is a fisherman who has been stranded and is named Mohamad Noor. The confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia then ends. Wati still believes that her husband is alive and goes to Malaysia to find him. She finds Hadi already married to a pregnant Latifah. Wati goes home in disappointment.

Irisan-irisan Hati

1988

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Apa jang Kau Tangisi

1965

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Apa jang Kau Tangisi

1965

No artwork available
NR

Amir, the son of a businessman, Yahya, is more interested in music than in having a position as president of the company. Yahya is totally against this, and even his brother, Ismed is not allowed to help him. Instead, help comes from Norma, his father’s private secretary, and some young musicians. A music festival that Amir organizes is a huge success. In the end, Yahya makes peace with Amir and retires happily. The company is handed over to Ismed while Norma goes off to help Amir. The film featured the Imam Band that was popular at that time. The members were Eka Djaja Combo, Dolok Martimbang, Teruna Ria, Kinantan, Irama Agung and Idris Sardi and his orchestra.

Pesta Musik La Bana

1960