| Melati van Agam | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Tan Tjoei Hock |
| Written by | Parada Harahap |
| Produced by | The Teng Chun |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | I. Ch. Chua |
| Music by | M. Sardi |
Production company | Java Industrial Film |
Release date |
|
| Country | Dutch East Indies |
| Language | Malay |
Melati van Agam (Indonesian for Jasmine of Agam) is a 1940 romance film directed by Tan Tjoei Hock and produced by The Teng Chun. Starring S. Soekarti and A.B. Rachman, the film follows young lovers named Norma and Idrus. The film may be lost.
Norma is known throughout her hometown of Fort de Kock (now Bukittinggi) for her beauty, and as a result is known as the "Jasmine of Agam". Although she is in love with a man named Idrus, who is a miner at Sawahlunto, she is forced to marry a school headmaster named Nazzaruddin, a man they consider more befitting their noble descent. Norma is distressed, both because her husband, Joe Dawson is much older than her and because she had previously vowed her eternal love to Idrus, and dreamt of having a home with him.
After her marriage Norma goes with Nazzaruddin to Kota Raja, Aceh (now Banda Aceh), where she must raise Nazzaruddin's children from a previous marriage. Their marriage becomes increasingly unhappy: Nazzaruddin is unable to handle his wife's Western education, whilst Norma sinks further into a depression after hearing of the heartbroken Idrus' death. A pregnant Norma returns to Fort de Kock and, after giving birth, is divorced by Nazzaruddin; he thinks the child resembles Idrus, and thus proof that Norma had been unfaithful. Eventually Norma commits suicide and is buried next to Idrus. Nazzaruddin sees her spirit take Idrus' in hand as they ascend to heaven together. [1]
Melati van Agam was directed by Tan Tjoei Hock for Java Industrial Films and produced by the company's owner, The Teng Chun. Tan adapted the story from the 1922 novel of the same name by Swan Pen (a pseudonym of journalist Parada Harahap). The novel had already been adapted for the stage several times, and a silent film had been released in 1931 by Tan's Film. [2] Marketing emphasised Harahap's role as the original novelist; at the time, the film industry was attempting to push away from the theatrical traditions, and journalism was considered a "modern" profession. [3] The plot likewise contrasted traditional lifestyles and modern ones. [4]
The black-and-white film starred S. Soekarti, A.B. Rachman, R. Abdullah, S. Thalib, N. Ismail, Rochani, Lena, and M. Sani. [2] Soekarti had no previous acting experience, whereas her on-screen romantic partner A.B. Rachman had previously acted in theatre. The marketing for Melati van Agam only focused on Soekarti's background, underplaying Rachman's. [3] Cinematography was handled by I. Ch. Chua, whilst kroncong musician M. Sardi provided the music. [4]
Melati van Agam was released in late 1940. [2] A review in the Medan-based De Sumatra Post praised Soekarti's performance as Norma, saying she "appears to have great talents." [lower-alpha 1] [5]
The film is likely lost. The American visual anthropologist Karl G. Heider writes that all Indonesian films from before 1950 are lost. [6] However, JB Kristanto's Katalog Film Indonesia (Indonesian Film Catalogue) records several as having survived at Sinematek Indonesia's archives, and Indonesian film historian Misbach Yusa Biran writes that several Japanese propaganda films have survived at the Netherlands Government Information Service. [7]
Tan's Film was a film production house in the Dutch East Indies. Established by the brothers Tan Khoen Yauw and Tan Khoen Hian on September 1, 1929, its films were mostly targeted at native ethnic groups. Starting with Njai Dasima in 1929, the company released fifteen movies before ultimately being dissolved after the Japanese occupation. The Tans and the Wong brothers established Tan & Wong Bros in 1948 to continue this work.
Melati van Agam is a 1931 romance film directed by Lie Tek Swie and produced by Tan's Film. Starring A. Rachman, Neng Titi, Oemar, and Bachtiar Effendi, the two-part film follows the young lovers Norma and Idrus. The film, which may be lost, was reportedly a commercial success, but critical reviews were less favourable.
Lie Tek Swie was an Indonesian film director active in the early cinema of the Dutch East Indies. He is thought to have begun his career at a film distributor's office before making his directorial debut in 1929 with Njai Dasima, the first of three literary adaptations that he directed. His other three films, two of which were made for Tan's Film, were original stories. In 1941 Lie was a founding member of the Standard Film Company, which closed in 1942.
The Wong brothers were three ethnic Chinese film directors and cameramen active in the cinema of the Dutch East Indies. The sons of an Adventist preacher, the brothers – Nelson (1895–1945), Joshua (1906–1981), and Othniel (1908–1986) – received much of their education in the United States before going to Shanghai and establishing The Great Wall Productions.
Tan Tjoei Hock was a Chinese-Indonesian journalist and filmmaker. Born in Batavia, he was discovered by The Teng Chun in the late 1930s. Tan became one of the most productive film directors of the Dutch East Indies between 1940 and 1941, directing nine films – primarily action.
Huwen op Bevel is a 1931 romance film from the Dutch East Indies. Directed by G. Krugers and thought to have been produced by Tan's Film, it follows two young lovers who are nearly separated but can ultimately be together. A critical flop, it was Krugers's last as a director. It is likely lost.
Zoebaida is a 1940 film from the Dutch East Indies directed by Njoo Cheong Seng. A romance set in Timor, it starred Njoo's wife Fifi Young and was the film debut of Soerip. Shot over a period of 27 days in a Dutch-owned studio, the film received middling reviews. It is likely lost.
Ikan Doejoeng is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies directed by Lie Tek Swie and starring Asmanah and Soerjono. Following star-crossed lovers, the film was the first released by Standard Film. Likely targeted at the educated elite, it is now probably lost.
Si Ronda is a 1930 silent film from the Dutch East Indies which was directed by Lie Tek Swie and starred Bachtiar Effendi. Based on contemporary Betawi oral tradition, it follows the exploits of a bandit, skilled in silat, known as Si Ronda. In the lenong stories from which the film was derived, Ronda was often depicted as a Robin Hood type of figure. The production, now thought lost, was one of a series of martial arts films released between 1929 and 1931. Si Ronda received little coverage in the media upon its release. A second adaptation of the tale, Si Ronda Macan Betawi, was made in 1978.
Srigala Item is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies that was directed by Tan Tjoei Hock and produced by The Teng Chun for Action Film. Starring Hadidjah, Mohamad Mochtar, and Tan Tjeng Bok, the film's plot – inspired by Zorro – follows a young man who became a masked vigilante to take revenge against his conniving uncle. Srigala Item was a commercial success, which Misbach Yusa Biran credits to the plot's use for escapism. A copy of the black-and-white film, which featured kroncong music, is stored at Sinematek Indonesia.
Sorga Palsoe is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies which was directed by Tan Tjoei Hock for Java Industrial Film. The tragedy, starring Lo Tjin Nio, Tong Hui, Lim Poen Tjiaw, and Rohana, was a commercial failure. It is likely lost.
Bengawan Solo is a now-lost 1949 film from what is now Indonesia. Directed by Jo An Djan, it starred Sofia WD, Rd Mochtar, and Mohamad Mochtar.
Matula is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies which was directed by Tan Tjoei Hock and produced by The Teng Chun of Java Industrial Film. The black-and-white film, now likely lost, follows a young man who tries to give a woman's soul to a shaman as payment for being made handsome.
Dasima is a 1940 film from the Dutch East Indies directed by Tan Tjoei Hock and produced by The Teng Chun. It is the third adaptation of G. Francis' 1896 novel Tjerita Njai Dasima.
Njai Dasima is a 1932 film from the Dutch East Indies which was directed by Bachtiar Effendi for Tan's Film. It was the second film adapted from G. Francis' 1896 novel Tjerita Njai Dasima, following a silent version in 1929. Starring Momo and Oesman, it followed a young Sundanese njai (concubine) who is tricked into marrying a man who does not love her and ultimately killed for her money. The film, the first talkie produced by its company, was also the first directed by a native Indonesian. The now-lost work received mixed critical reception.
Lintah Darat is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies directed by Wu Tsun and produced by Jo Eng Sek.
Si Gomar is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies which was written and directed by Tan Tjoei Hock and produced by The Teng Chun. Starring Hadidjah, Mohamad Mochtar, and Tan Tjeng Bok, the movie follows a brother and sister who are separated by robbers and almost marry before their cousin recognises them.
Mas Sardi was an Indonesian composer and musician notable for being the country's first professional music supervisor. He and his wife Hadidjah were the parents of Citra Award-winning musician Idris Sardi.
Air Mata Mengalir di Tjitarum is a 1948 film from what is now Indonesia, written and directed by Roestam Sutan Palindih for the Tan & Wong Bros Film Company.
Soeara Berbisa is a 1941 film from the Dutch East Indies. Produced by Ang Hock Liem for Union Films and directed by R Hu, this black-and-white film stars Raden Soekarno, Ratna Djoewita, Oedjang, and Soehaena. The story, written by Djojopranoto, follows two young men who compete for the affections of a woman before learning that they are long-lost brothers.
