The production of a documentary film about the maestro painter from South Kalimantan, Misbach Tamrin, has begun.
The project is being undertaken by the Akademi Bangku Panjang Mingguraya (ABPM) Banjarbaru, with support from the Museum of Cultural Heritage through LPDP and Dana Indonesiana, under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) through the Documentation of Works and Knowledge of Maestros/Endangered OPK 2023 program. The project is targeted for completion by July 2024.
Misbach Tamrin, as an artist, has a long historical journey, from the New Order regime to now at the age of 84.
During the “1965 Incident,” young Misbach, who was then part of the People’s Cultural Institute (Lekra), experienced the bitterness and coldness of prison due to his artistic idealism.
He once fled to the Meratus mountain forest with five friends, surviving with limited supplies. Misbach was eventually captured when he descended to the nearest village after three weeks of hiding and running out of food.
This period of escape and hiding opens the story of Misbach Tamrin, with the film script written by Sandi Firly, a writer and journalist.
Produced by Kin Muhammad, the first shooting began at Misbach’s house in the Darma Praja Complex, Banjarmasin, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, under the direction of Khalifaturrridha, also known as Jabuk from Lima Serangkai.
Wearing a white shirt layered with an old faded orange jacket and a gray cap, which is his trademark, Misbach confidently sat on a dark brown wooden chair. In front of the camera, Misbach fluently narrated his life story. Sometimes his voice trembled, but it remained firm and clear. His memory is still very strong, recounting each important moment in detail and clearly, as bright as the spotlight on his old face.
In addition to Misbach, several other sources were involved to provide testimony about the maestro’s journey. These include Hajriansyah and Hairus Salim, who co-wrote a book about Misbach, and EZ Halim in Bogor, who is a collector of Misbach’s paintings. Testimonies from several other sources are also planned, as the film shooting will also take place in Yogyakarta and Jakarta.
Previously, the historical traces of Misbach Tamrin were also investigated by the ABPM Research Team, led by Hudan Nur. The investigation was conducted from South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, Yogyakarta, Jakarta, to Bogor.
The Director of Akademi Bangku Panjang Mingguraya (ABPM) Banjarbaru, HE. Benyamine explained that South Kalimantan should indeed provide support and reinforcement to figures who have consistently pursued their artistic endeavors with dedication throughout their lives.
“Misbach Thamrin is an example in the advancement of culture, especially in the field of fine arts, where he has been involved in cultural debates and ideas as a writer, painter, and creator of many monuments in cities in South and Central Kalimantan,” he explained. His consistent contribution to Indonesian fine arts until the age of over 80 is why Ben considers Misbach a maestro in his field.
