Pelamonia was born in
Ambon, Maluku, on 16 March 1940. His parents intended for him to become a priest, and after senior high school he sent to
Java to prepare for it. In 1962, however, Pelamonia enrolled at the Indonesian National Theater Academy (, or ATNI). He had his first film role, a bit part in
Fred Young's
Dibalik Awan (
Behind the Clouds), the following year. During his school years he acted in two films,
D. Djajakusuma's
Masa Topan dan Badai (
Time of Storms and Gales; 1963) and Pitrajaya Burnama's
Karma (1965). He was also involved in television, becoming a presenter for the newly established
TVRI. In 1965 Pelamonia dropped out of ATNI and signed with Pertisa Film, later known as Tuti Mutia Film Production. Pelamonia's first film for the company,
Fadjar Ditengah Kabut (
Dawn Amidst the Fog), saw him act and serve as
assistant director to Danu Umbara. The following year Pelamonia made his directorial debut with
Sendja di Jakarta (
Twilight in Jakarta), an adaptation of
the novel of the same name by
Mochtar Lubis. Two years later he departed for
West Germany, where he studied filmmaking. Upon his return to Indonesia in 1970, Pelamonia resumed acting. He took a role in Hasmanan's
Samiun dan Dasima (
Samiun and Dasima) in 1970. The following year he directed his first film since returning from West Germany,
Jang Djatuh Dikaki Lelaki (
Those Who Fall at the Feet of Men) from the novel by Abdullah Harahap. He directed a further four films for Tuti Mutia, acting in several of them. This culminated with
Semalam di Malaysia (
One Night in Malaysia) in 1975. After the film garnered him a
Citra Award for Best Director at the 1976
Indonesian Film Festival, Pelamonia left Tuti Mutia and began working as a
freelancer. Between 1976 and 1988 Pelamonia directed another 13 films, mostly romances. His 1981 adaptation of
Marga T's
Dr. Karmila garnered him another Citra Award nomination, although he lost to
Arifin C. Noer of
Serangan Fajar (
Attack at Dawn). Pelamonia has also acted in a further ten films, including
Nagabonar in 1986; the film was submitted for an
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, although it was not nominated. During the 1980s he was active as a member of the Indonesian Film Festival selection committee and Chairman of Film and Television Employees Association. ==Filmography==