Berdjoang | |
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Directed by | Rd. Ariffien |
Written by | Rd. Ariffien |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Siat Yu Ming |
Production company | |
Release date |
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Country | Dutch East Indies |
Language | Indonesian |
Berdjoang (literally "struggle", also known under the title Hope of the South) is a 1943 film from the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). The film, produced by the Japanese studio Nippon Eigasha , is credited as having been directed by Rd. Ariffien, although Ariffien may have actually served as an assistant. Starring Mohamad Mochtar, Sambas, Dhalia, Kartolo, and Chatir Harro, it follows several villagers and their different approaches to Japanese military rule. The propaganda film was meant to draw Indonesians to enter a Japanese-sponsored army and survives, in part, in the Netherlands.
In Legok, a Japanese spokesman gives a speech regarding the formation of military units for native Indonesians. Two village boys, the best friends Saman (Sambas) and Anang (Mohamad Mochtar), try to join the army. Saman is not accepted owing to a lame leg, but Anang begins training. Saman, meanwhile, begins working indirectly for the Japanese occupation government by taking up work at a food company.
While Anang is away, the university-educated Ahmad (Chatir Harro), a fellow villager, express interest in Anang's girlfriend, Saman's sister Hasanah (Dahlia). Hasanah is not interested as she considers him ill-mannered and lazy. She tells him he should join the army, something Ahmad refuses to do. Saman, who has proven himself with his diligence, is promoted and eventually marries his boss's daughter, Nani (R.A. Pulunggana).
One day, Anang – now a unit leader – returns to the village with several of his men. He sees that Saman has been unable to join the army and thus apologises, as he considers their actions as children responsible for Saman's injuries. Their discussion is interrupted by cries of "Thief!" from outside; they rush out and see that Ahmad has been caught stealing from Saman's factory. Although Saman hits Ahmad several times, he refuses to press charges against the thief. Anang then takes his leave to go back to the army. [1] [2]
The Empire of Japan began occupying the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) in early 1942. The country's film industry was essentially shut down: all but one film studio was closed. The Japanese film studio Nippon Eigasha established a branch in the Indies. [3] This was the company which produced Berdjoang. [1] The film was one of several Japanese propaganda films produced during the period; Berjoang was aimed at enticing Indonesians to join the army. [4]
Berdjoang was produced by the Japanese-sponsored Nippon Eigasha. It is credited as having been written and directed by Rd. Ariffien, [5] but the Indonesian film historian Misbach Yusa Biran suggests that a Japanese man named Kurata Bunjin was the actual director, with Rd. Ariffien as his assistant. [1] It starred Mohamad Mochtar, Sambas, Dhalia, Kartolo, and Chatir Harro. Hajopan Bajo Angin was artistic director. [5] The black-and-white film had Indonesian and Japanese-language dialogue. [4] Filming started on 1 September 1943, [1] with Siat Yu Ming on camera. [4]
The film departed from the rising intellectual movement of works produced domestically in 1940 and 1941; these films had shown university students, depicted by well-educated actors, as heroes, while Berdjoang relegated the intellectual elite to the realm of petty criminals. [2]
Berdjoang was released in 1943. [5] It was the only domestically produced feature film released in the Dutch East Indies; Nippon Eigasha and Persafi did, however, make five short films as well as several newsreels before the Japanese surrendered in August 1945. [6] [7]
The film is one of several Japanese propaganda films have survived, in whole or in part, at the Netherlands Government Information Service. [4] [8] A ten-minute reel, thought to be the fourth act, was discovered in Jakarta and brought to the Netherlands, where it is now stored at the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. [4] This extract was screened at the 1997 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, during a feature on Japanese newsreels and other productions during the occupation of the Indies. [7]
Hajji Raden Mochtar, often credited as Rd Mochtar, was an Indonesian actor. Of noble descent, Mochtar was discovered by Albert Balink and first cast in the commercial failure Pareh (1936). Rising to popularity after the release of Terang Boelan the following year, he spent nearly sixty years in film, while also becoming a businessman and farmer.
Terang Boelan is a 1937 film from the Dutch East Indies. Written by Saeroen, directed by Albert Balink, and starring Rd Mochtar, Roekiah and Eddie T. Effendi, Terang Boelan follows two lovers who elope after one is almost forced to marry an opium smuggler. The film was shot in the Indies and Singapore, and was partially inspired by the 1936 Hollywood film The Jungle Princess. It was aimed at native audiences and included keroncong music, which was popular at the time, and several actors from Balink's previous work Pareh (1936).
Roekiah, often credited as Miss Roekiah, was an Indonesian kroncong singer and actress. The daughter of two stage performers, she began her career at the age of seven; by 1932 she had become well known in Batavia, Dutch East Indies, as a singer and stage actress. Around this time she met Kartolo, whom she married in 1934. The two acted in the 1937 hit film Terang Boelan, in which Roekiah and Rd Mochtar played young lovers.
Raden Mas Kartolo was an Indonesian actor and songwriter. Born in Yogyakarta to a noble family, he entered the theatre and married the actress Roekiah around 1933. The two, living in Batavia acted in numerous movies together, starting with the 1938 hit Terang Boelan. However, Roekiah was always cast with other actors as her romantic interest. After Roekiah died in 1945, Kartolo brought the family to Yogyakarta and worked with Radio Republik Indonesia until his death. One of his sons, Rachmat Kartolo, went on to be an actor in the 1960s and 1970s.
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.
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Sorga Ka Toedjoe is a 1940 film from the Dutch East Indies directed by Joshua and Othniel Wong for Tan's Film. It follows an older couple who are reunited by another, younger couple after years of separation. The black-and-white film, the first production by Tan's Film after the departure of Rd Mochtar, featured kroncong music and was targeted at lower-class native audiences. It was a commercial and critical success. Roekiah and Djoemala took leading roles in three more films before Tan's closed in 1942. Sorga Ka Toedjoe is now thought lost.
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Mohamad Mochtar, usually credited as Moh Mochtar, was an Indonesian film actor active from 1939 until his death in 1981.
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