Fifi Young
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Fifi Young (12 January 1915 – 5 March 1975) was an Indonesian actress of mixed French and Chinese descent who acted in at least 86 films over her 34-year career.


Early life and stage career

Young was born with the name Nonie Tan (; POJ: Tan Kim Nio) in Sungai Liput,
Aceh Aceh ( , ; , Jawi script, Jawoë: ; Van Ophuijsen Spelling System, Old Spelling: ''Atjeh'') is the westernmost Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is located on the northern end of Sumatra island, with Banda Aceh being its capit ...
, on 12 January 1915 to a ''peranakan'' Chinese mother and French father; her father may have been a serviceman during
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. After her father died when she was a child, Young and her mother moved to Batavia (modern day
Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
), where Young completed four years of elementary school at a Dutch-run school for Chinese. Young first joined the Dewi Dja' troupe as a dancer, using the pseudonym Dewi Maria. She later switched to Miss Riboet's Orion troupe, where she married the playwright Njoo Cheong Seng when she was 14. The elder man coached her in acting and convinced her to take the stage name Fifi Young;
Young Young may refer to: * Offspring, the product of reproduction of a new organism produced by one or more parents * Youth, the time of life when one's age is low, often meaning the time between childhood and adulthood Music * The Young, an America ...
was the
Cantonese Cantonese is the traditional prestige variety of Yue Chinese, a Sinitic language belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family. It originated in the city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) and its surrounding Pearl River Delta. While th ...
equivalent of Njoo's
Hokkien Hokkien ( , ) is a Varieties of Chinese, variety of the Southern Min group of Chinese language, Chinese languages. Native to and originating from the Minnan region in the southeastern part of Fujian in southeastern China, it is also referred ...
surname, while Fifi was meant to be reminiscent of the French actress
Fifi D'Orsay Fifi D'Orsay (born Marie-Rose Angelina Yvonne Lussier; April 16, 1904 – December 2, 1983) was a Canadian-American actress and singer. Early life Fifi D'Orsay was born Marie-Rose Angelina Yvonne Lussier in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a fathe ...
. With Miss Riboet, Young travelled throughout South East Asia, including in Malaya. In 1930 the couple established the Moonlight Crystal Follies in
Penang Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. Th ...
, where Young had her first acting job. By the mid-1930s Young and Njoo had switched to the
Dardanella "Dardanella" is a popular song published in 1919 by McCarthy & Fisher, Inc., a firm owned by Fred Fisher, lyricist, for music composed by Felix Bernard and Johnny S. Black. Bandleader Ben Selvin (1898–1980) recorded "Dardanella" for several ...
troupe. Young was one of the group's stars, and after most of the group went abroad Young and Njoo established their own troupe, Fifi Young's Pagoda, in 1937.


Film career

After the success of
Albert Balink Albert Balink (3 August 1906 – 8 February 1976) was a Dutch journalist and filmmaker who contributed to early Indonesian cinema. Born in the Netherlands, he began a career in film journalism in the Dutch East Indies. A self-taught filmmaker, ...
's ''
Terang Boelan (; Indonesian language, Indonesian for "Full Moon", ''Terang Bulan'' in the Enhanced Spelling of the Indonesian Language, Enhanced Spelling System) is a 1937 film from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Written by Saeroen, directed by Albe ...
'' in 1937 and
The Teng Chun The Teng Chun (; 18 June 1902 – 25 February 1977), also known by his Indonesian name Tahjar Ederis, was an Indonesian film producer. Born to a rich businessman, The became interested in film while still a youth. After a period as an expo ...
's '' Alang-Alang'' in 1939, four new film studios were started. One of these, Oriental Film, signed Njoo and Young; Njoo was taken as a writer, while Young was meant to be an actress. Young was hoped to be the studio's
bankable star In the film industry, a bankable star is a film actor (movie star) "capable of guaranteeing box-office success simply by showing up in a movie". The bankability of an actor includes their films' box office track record, professional demeanor, and ...
, and starred in the studio's first three films: '' Kris Mataram'' (''Kris of Mataram''; 1940), '' Zoebaida'' (1940), and '' Pantjawarna'' (''Five Colours''; 1941). When Njoo left the studio to join Majestic Pictures upon the invitation of Fred Young (no relation), Fifi Young went with him. With Majestic she starred in '' Air Mata Iboe'' (''Mother's Tears''; 1941). During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, Young and Njoo were members of the Bintang Soerabaia troupe; their fellow member
Dhalia Dhalia ( Perfected Spelling: Dahlia; 10 February 1925 – 14 April 1991) was an Indonesian actress active for over fifty years. She was nominated for three Citra Awards at the Indonesian Film Festival, winning one. Early life and education ...
had also been a film star before the occupation. The Japanese had closed all but one film studio, essentially killing the industry. During the four-year revolution that followed
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Young and her husband led the Pantjawarna troupe. After the revolution, Young returned to film. During the following two decades she often played mother figures. The American visual anthropologist Karl G. Heider writes that Young performed especially well when acting as an older village woman and that she was well known for chewing
betel Betel (''Piper betle'') is a species of flowering plant in the pepper family Piperaceae, native to Southeast Asia. It is an evergreen, dioecious vine, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkins. Betel plants are cultivated for their lea ...
on-screen. Young's last film was
Teguh Karya Teguh Karya (born Steve Liem Tjoan Hok; ; 22 September 1937 – 11 December 2001) was an Indonesian film director. Starting his entertainment career in theatre, he made his directorial debut in 1971 with '' Wadjah Seorang Laki-Laki'' in wh ...
's ''Ranjang Pengantin'' (''Wedding Dress'') released in 1974. She died on 5 March 1975 after spending several months in hospital. She was cremated at Muara Karang,
North Jakarta North Jakarta (; ), abbreviated as Jakut, is one of the five administrative cities (''kota administrasi'') which form Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Indonesia. North Jakarta is not self-governed and does not have a city council, hence it is ...
, four days after her death, until which she had actively spoke out against the sexually-themed stories that had begun dominating the nation's cinema. Her daughter Sally, one of five children Young had with Njoo before they divorced, went into acting. Young has a famous badminton player grandson,
Rudy Gunawan Rudy Gunawan ( zh, c=郭宏源; born 31 December 1966) is a former Indonesian badminton player who played between 1980s and 1990s. Rudy Gunawan won various international championships, both in the men's doubles and mixed doubles events. He has p ...
is a son of one of her daughter Njoo Giok Hwa.


Awards

Young received several acting awards during her career. At the inaugural
Indonesian Film Festival The Indonesian Film Festival ( Indonesian: Festival Film Indonesia, 'FFI') is an annual awards ceremony organised by the Indonesian Film Board and the Ministry of Culture to celebrate cinematic achievements in the Indonesian film industry. Dur ...
in 1955, Young was chosen for the best actress award for her role in ''
Tarmina ''Tarmina'' is a 1954 Indonesian film directed by Lilik Sudjio. It stars Fifi Young, A. Hadi and Endang Kusdiningsih. It received five awards at the first Indonesian Film Festival in 1955, including Best Film, Best Director for Lilik Sudjio, ...
''. She received several nominations from the PWI, including Best Actress for ''Wajah Seorang Pembunuh'' in 1973 and Best Actress for ''Jembatan Merah'' in 1974. In November 2003 Young was posthumously awarded a Budaya Parama Dharma Award by President
Megawati Sukarnoputri Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Sukarnoputri (; born 23 January 1947) is an Indonesian politician who served as the fifth president of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004 and the eighth vice president under President Abdurrahman Wahid from 1999 to 200 ...
for her contributions to the development of Indonesian culture. Other awardees included the comedian
Bing Slamet Ahmad Syech Albar (27 September 1927 – 17 December 1974), better known by his stage name Bing Slamet, was an Indonesian singer, songwriter, comedian, and actor. During his career, he acted in 17 films and released "dozens" of albums. Shortl ...
and the director D. Djajakusuma.


Filmography

Young acted in at least 86 films over her 34-year career, saying in 1972 that she had forgotten just how many. Those recorded are as follows: *'' Kris Mataram'' (''Kris of Mataram''; 1940) *'' Zoebaida'' (1940) *'' Pantjawarna'' (''Five Colours''; 1941) *'' Air Mata Iboe'' (''Mother's Tears''; 1941) *''Bintang Surabaja 1951'' (''Star of Surabaya 1951''; 1950) *''Harumanis'' (''Sweet and Fragrant''; 1950) *''Irawaty (Aju Kesuma)'' (''Irawaty eautiful Flower'; 1950) *''Meratap Hati'' (''Lamenting the Heart''; 1950) *''Ratapan Ibu'' (''Mother's Wailing''; 1950) *''Djakarta Diwaktu Malam'' (''Jakarta at Night''; 1954) *''Halilintar'' (1954) *''Sedarah Sedaging'' (''Blood and Flesh''; 1954) *''Siapa Ajahku'' (''Who's My Father''; 1954) *''
Tarmina ''Tarmina'' is a 1954 Indonesian film directed by Lilik Sudjio. It stars Fifi Young, A. Hadi and Endang Kusdiningsih. It received five awards at the first Indonesian Film Festival in 1955, including Best Film, Best Director for Lilik Sudjio, ...
'' (1954) *''Gadis Sesat'' (''Lost Girl''; 1955) *''Berdjumpa Kembali'' (''Meet Again''; 1955) *''Kekasih Ajah'' (''Father's Lover''; 1955) *''Rumah Gila'' (''Crazy House''; 1955) *''Pemetjahan Poligami'' (''Polygamous Breakup''; 1956) *''Terang Bulan Terang di Kali'' (''Moonlight Shining in the Stream''; 1956) *''
Tiga Dara ''Tiga Dara'' (Indonesian for ''Three Maidens'') is a 1957 Indonesian Musical film, musical drama film starring Chitra Dewi, Mieke Wijaya, and Indriati Iskak. Directed by Usmar Ismail for Perfini, the film follows three sisters who live with the ...
'' (''Three Ladies''; 1956) *''Tandjung Katung'' (1957) *''Air Mata Ibu'' (''Mother's Tears''; 1957) *''Konsepsi Ajah'' (''Father's Conception''; 1957) *'' Asrama Dara'' (''Women's Love''; 1958) *''Bertamasja'' (''Holiday''; 1959) *''Momon'' (1959) *''Serba Salah'' (''Always Wrong''; 1959) *''Tiga Mawar'' (''Three Roses''; 1959) *''Darah Tinggi'' (''High Blood''; 1960) *''Desa yang Dilupakan'' (''The Forgotten Village''; 1960) *''Gadis Manis Dipinggir Djalan'' (''Sweet Maiden at the Roadside''; 1960) *''Gaja Remadja'' (''Teenage Girl''; 1960) *''Mendung Sendja Hari'' (''Dark at Noon''; 1960) *''Asmara dan Wanita'' (''Passion and Women''; 1961) *''Limapuluh Megaton'' (''Fifty Megatons''; 1961) *''Notaris Sulami'' (''Sulami the Notary Public''; 1961) *''Sajem''(1961) *''Pesan Ibu'' (''Mother's Message''; 1961) *''Si Kembar'' (''The Twins''; 1961) *''Holiday in Bali'' (1962) *''Violetta'' (1962) *''DKN 901'' (1962) *''Bintang Ketjil'' (''Little Star''; 1963) *''Daerah Perbatasan'' (''Border''; 1964) *''Pilihan Hati'' (''Heart's Choice''; 1964) *''Manusia dan Peristiwa'' (''Mankind and Events''; 1968) *''Awan Djingga'' (''Orange Clouds''; 1970) *''Bali'' (1970) *''Dibalik Pintu Dosa'' (''Behind the Doors of Sin''; 1970) *''Hidup, Tjinta dan Air Mata'' (''Life, Love, and Tears''; 1970) *'' Samiun dan Dasima'' (''Samiun and Dasima''; 1970) *''Si Bego Menumpas Kutjing Hitam'' (''The Idiot Takes on the Black Cat''; 1970) *''Si Pitung'' (1970) *''Banteng Betawi'' (''The Betawi Bull''; 1971) *''Biarkan Musim Berganti'' (''Let the Seasons Pass''; 1971) *''Derita Tiada Akhir'' (''Unending Suffering''; 1971) *''Djembatan Emas'' (''The Golden Bridge''; 1971) *''Ilusia (Kasih Tak Terputuskan)'' (''Illusion nrequited Love'; 1971) *''Insan Kesepian'' (''Lonely Person''; 1971) *'' Malin Kundang (Anak Durhaka)'' (''Malin Kundang orsaken Child'; 1971) *''Pengantin Remaja'' (''Teenage Bride''; 1971) *''Rina'' (1971) *''Tjinta di Batas Peron'' (''Love at the Lorry's Edge''; 1971) *''Mawar Rimba'' (''Jungle Rose''; 1972) *''Pengantin Tiga Kali'' (''Married Three Times''; 1972) *''
Salah Asuhan ''Salah Asuhan'' (Indonesian: Wrong Upbringing) is an Indonesian novel by Abdul Muis originally published in 1928 by Balai Pustaka. It is widely considered one of the best examples of early modern Indonesian literature. Background ''Salah Asuh ...
'' (''Wrong Upbringing''; 1972) *''Aku Tak Berdosa'' (''I Did Nothing Wrong''; 1972) *''Titienku Sayang'' (''My Dear Titien''; 1972) *''Tjintaku Djauh Dipulau'' (''My Titien, Far Away''; 1972) *''Wajah Seorang Pembunuh'' (''Face of a Killer''; 1972) *''Ketemu Jodoh'' (''Meeting a Soulmate''; 1973) *''Kutukan Ibu'' (''Mother's Curse''; 1973) *''Ambisi'' (''Ambition''; 1973) *''Jembatan Merah'' (''Red Bridge''; 1973) *''Si Doel Anak Betawi'' (''Doel, the Betawi Child''; 1973) *''Bobby'' (1974) *''Si Bagong Mujur'' (''The Lucky Bagong''; 1974) *''Tetesan Air Mata Ibu'' (''Mother's Tear Drops''; 1974) *''Cinta Remaja'' (''Teenage Lovers''; 1974) *''Ratapan dan Rintihan'' (''Wailing and Crying''; 1974) *''Hamidah'' (1974) *''Sayangilah Daku'' (''Love Me''; 1974) *''Mei Lan, Aku Cinta Padamu'' (''Mei Lan, I Love You''; 1974) *''Gaun Pengantin'' (''Wedding Dress''; 1974) *''Ranjang Pengantin'' (''Wedding Bed''; 1974)


Notes


References

Footnotes Bibliography * * * * * * * * *


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Young, Fifi 1915 births 1975 deaths 20th-century Indonesian actresses Actresses from the Dutch East Indies Citra Award winners Indonesian film actresses Indonesian people of Chinese descent Indo people Indonesian Hokkien people Indonesian people of French descent Actresses from Aceh Indonesian stage actresses