Raden Ariffien, often credited as Rd Ariffien, was an Indonesian film
director. Initially a nationalist figure, he entered the film industry
in 1940 after a period in theatre and radio. During his 25-year
career, he was involved in some 36 films in various positions. He
later became head editor of the film magazine Varia.Ariffien was born
in Cimahi, Dutch East Indies, on 23 June 1902. He received a
primary-level education. Beginning in 1923 he became involved with the
nascent nationalist and labour movements, writing articles for several
newspapers. He spent three years in prison during the late 1920s and,
shortly after joining the Indonesian National Party (Partai Nasional
Indonesia), saw another two years in prison from 1930 to 1931. He
later focused his energies on the theatre. By the mid-1930s he had
joined the Bolero troupe, under the direction of Andjar Asmara. After
leaving the troupe he spent some time directing radio dramas.By 1940
Ariffien had entered film, making his debut on Harta Berdarah (Bloody
Treasure). He co-directed the film, which followed a rich yet terrible
man getting his comeuppance, with R. Hu for Union Films. The following
year he made Asmara Moerni (Pure Passion), drawing the nationalist
figure Adnan Kapau Gani to act in the film, which was targeted at
well-educated audiences; the film was generally well received. He
wrote one more film, Star's Tjioeng Wanara, and directed another,
Wanita dan Satria, that year.After the Empire of Japan occupied the
Indies beginning in 1942, Ariffien worked with the Cultural Board
(Keimin Bunka Syidosyo) and was given two opportunities to direct
propaganda films for the studio Nippon Eigasha. However, the
Indonesian film historian Misbach Yusa Biran suggests that a Japanese
man named Kurata Bunjin was the actual director of these works, with
Rd Ariffien as his assistant. The first, Berdjoang, was released in
1943 and was meant to entice Indonesians to join the army fighting for
Japan; it was the only domestically-produced feature film released in
the Dutch East Indies during the occupation. The second, a short film
entitled Keseberang, followed in 1944. Rd Ariffien Top Movies & Young Movies