Djaoeh Dimata

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Djaoeh Dimata
Newspaper advertisement, Surabaya
Directed byAndjar Asmara
Written byAndjar Asmara
Starring
CinematographyA.A. Denninghoff-Stelling
Production
company
South Pacific Film Corporation
Release date
  • 1948 (1948) (Dutch East Indies)
Countries
LanguageIndonesian

Djaoeh Dimata

gulden
.

The first domestically produced feature film to be released in five years, Djaoeh Dimata received favourable reviews, although financially it was outperformed by Roestam Sutan Palindih's Air Mata Mengalir di Tjitarum (released soon after). The film's cast remained active in the Indonesian film industry, some for another 30 years, and SPFC produced six more works before closing in 1949. A copy of the film is stored at Sinematek Indonesia.

Plot

Ratna Asmara, Ali Joego, and Iscandar Sukarno in a scene from the film

A poor villager, Asrad (Ali Joego), is blinded following a traffic accident and thus unable to work. As a result, his wife Soelastri (Ratna Asmara) travels to the capital, Jakarta, to find a job. As Asrad does not trust his wife and fears she may be unfaithful, he writes her a letter telling her not to return. Soelastri becomes a singer, and – unknown to Asrad – soon achieves wide acclaim. Her most popular song, "Djaoeh Dimata", receives heavy airplay on the radio and soon becomes one of Asrad's favourites. Ultimately Soelastri is brought home by Soekarto (Iskandar Sucarno), who attempts to pass her off as a maid for Asrad. When Asrad recognises his wife's voice, they are reconciled.[1]

Background

The first two years of the 1940s saw a growth in the cinema of the

pro-Japanese propaganda.[3]

After the

fictional films. This new company, the South Pacific Film Corporation (SPFC), was subsidised in part by the Netherlands Indies Civil Administration, a continuation of the former Dutch colonial government of the Indies.[5]

Production

Ratna Asmara, pictured in 1940
Ali Yugo, pictured in 1948
Ratna Asmara and Ali Joego, stars of the film

SPFC hired

dialogue coach; the Dutch cinematographer, A.A. Denninghoff-Stelling, held more creative power over the final product.[5] Max Tera served as assistant cinematographer on this black-and-white film.[8]

The film starred Ratna Asmara (wife of Andjar), Ali Yugo, Iskandar Sucarno, and Djauhari Effendi,[c][9] all of whom had previous theatrical experience. Ratna and Ali, together with Andjar, had been members of the travelling troupe Dardanella in the early 1930s and entered the film industry together in 1940 with Kartinah.[10] Iskandar and Djauhari, meanwhile, had been active in the theatre during the occupation; both made their feature film debuts with Djaoeh Dimata.[11]

gulden,[d] which was partially obtained from ethnic Chinese backers.[16] The film included multiple songs, including Gesang Martohartono's 1940 hit "Bengawan Solo".[17]

A documentary detailing one day of the production, called Er wordt een film gemaakt ("A film is being made") exists in the Netherlands.[18][19]

Release and reception

Djaoeh Dimata was released in late 1948, the first domestic feature film since Berdjoang.[20] Despite this five-year gap, film critic Usmar Ismail writes that it did not stray from the formula which had been proven before the war,[21] one which Indonesian film historian Misbach Yusa Biran notes focused on songs, beautiful scenery and romance.[22] Roestam Sutan Palindih's Air Mata Mengalir di Tjitarum (Tears Flow in Citarum), which had similar themes, was released shortly after Djaoeh Dimata by the rival Tan & Wong Bros.; it proved the greater financial success.[23] Only three domestic productions were released in 1948; the last was another SPFC production, entitled Anggrek Bulan (Moon Orchid), which was also directed by Andjar.[24]

Reviews of the film, which was rated for all ages,[17] were mixed. One in the Jakarta-based Het Dagblad found the film to have many (unspecified) weak moments as well as strong ones. It particularly praised Ali's acting as a blind man, as well as Denninghoff-Stelling's camerawork.[25] Another reviewer, in the magazine Mestika, described Ratna as an "unprecedented tragedienne"[e] capable of making viewers cry "unrestrained tears of emotion".[f][26] After Djaoeh Dimata was released in Singapore in June 1949, a reviewer for The Straits Times praised the film's "fine photography and almost perfect sound".[27]

Andjar directed two further films for South Pacific, Anggrek Bulan and

35 mm copy of Djaoeh Dimata is stored at Sinematek Indonesia in Jakarta.[31]

Notes

  1. ^ Various contemporary spellings also include Djaoeh di Mata, Djauh Dimata, and Djauh di Mata.
  2. ^ The film was released during the Indonesian National Revolution, in which time Indonesia had declared itself independent while the Dutch East Indies was still formally in existence.
  3. ^ Sources do not indicate Effendi's role.
  4. ^ At the time, 130,000 gulden was officially the equivalent to US$ 50,000, with an exchange rate at 2.6 gulden to the dollar. Owing to the war, however, the black market price of dollars was four to five times as much (Mooney 1948, Holland).
  5. ^ Original: "... een tragedienne zonder weerga"
  6. ^ Original: "... zijn tranen van ontroering, niet bedwingen kan."
  7. ^ The Dutch had recognised Indonesia's independence after several months of negotiations. In the aftermath, the Indonesian government acquired Regerings Film Bedrijf, SPFC's parent company. It was merged with Berita Film Indonesia to form Perusahaan Pilem Negara (State Film Company), later renamed Produksi Film Negara (JCG, Berita Film Indonesia).

References

  1. ^ Filmindonesia.or.id, Djaoeh Dimata; Het Dagblad 1949, 'Djaoeh di Mata'
  2. ^ Biran 2009, pp. 385–387.
  3. ^ Biran 2009, pp. 339–343.
  4. ^ Danujaya & Tjasmadi 1992, p. 50.
  5. ^ a b Biran 2009, p. 359.
  6. ^ a b Encyclopedia of Jakarta, Andjar Asmara.
  7. ^ Sumardjo 1992, p. 247.
  8. ^ Filmindonesia.or.id, Max Tera.
  9. ^ Filmindonesia.or.id, Kredit Djaoeh Dimata.
  10. ^ Filmindonesia.or.id, Ali Yugo; Encyclopedia of Jakarta, Andjar Asmara
  11. ^ Filmindonesia.or.id, Djauhari Effendi; Filmindonesia.or.id, Iskander Sucarno; Het Vrije Volk 1948, 'Djaoeh di Mata'
  12. ^ Limburgsch Dagblad 1948, In Batavia Wordt.
  13. ^ De Vrije Pers 1948, Indonesische films.
  14. ^ Het Vrije Volk 1948, 'Djaoeh di Mata'.
  15. ^ Het Dagblad 1948, Camera draait.
  16. ^ Limburgsch Dagblad 1948, In Batavia Wordt; De Vrije Pers 1948, Indonesische films
  17. ^ a b De Vrije Pers 1949, (untitled).
  18. ^ "Er Wordt Een Film Gemaakt (14 November 1948)" (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  19. ^ "Beeld En Geluid" (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  20. ^ Said, McGlynn & Heider 1991, p. 3.
  21. ^ Ismail 1983, pp. 54–56.
  22. ^ Biran 2009, p. 25.
  23. ^ Biran 2009, p. 367.
  24. ^ Biran 2009, p. 385.
  25. ^ Het Dagblad 1949, 'Djaoeh di Mata'.
  26. ^ Quoted in Het Nieuwsblad voor Sumatra 1949, Een 'Anak Medan'
  27. ^ The Straits Times 1949, Indies Film.
  28. ^ Swestin 2009, p. 104.
  29. ^ Filmindonesia.or.id, Ali Yugo; Filmindonesia.or.id, Djauhari Effendi; Filmindonesia.or.id, Iskander Sucarno
  30. ^ Filmindonesia.or.id, South Pacific.
  31. ^ Filmindonesia.or.id, Djaoeh Dimata.

Works cited

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