Lily van Java

Lilly van Java Lily of Java, also known as Melatie van Java Jasmine of Java, is a 1928 film from the Dutch East Indies directed by Nelson Wong. Initially meant to be produced by South Sea Film and shot by an American director, the film which follows a woman told to marry a man she does not love was ultimately completed by Wongs Halimoen Film. Details on its cast and performance are contradictory, although the film is recognised as the first of a long series of ethnic Chineseproduced films in the country. It is likely a lost film.

The first two films produced in the Dutch East Indies, Loetoeng Kasaroeng 1926 and Eulis Atjih 1927, were made by the Dutch filmmakers L. Heuveldorp and G. Kruger, respectively. Ethnic Chinese businessmen, capitalising on the success of films produced in Shanghai, China, established two production houses, one in Batavia modern day Jakarta and the other in Surabaya. South Sea Film, the production house in Batavia established by Liem Goan Lian and Tjan Tjoen Lian, was advertised as the first Chinese filmmaking cooperative in the country. Its first script was for Lily van Java which the company had to pass through the Film Commissie national censorship bureau for fear of violating traditional values.According to JB Kristantos Katalog Film Indonesia Indonesian Film Catalogue, an American named Len Ross was initially booked to direct the film Ross was reportedly in the country to film a work entitled Java for MetroGoldwynMayer and shot several scenes in mid1928. The cast was ethnic Chinese, and the female stars Lie Lian Hwa and Lie Bo Tan were reportedly daughters of the Surabayan gangster Lie Bauw Kie and trained in silat other cast members included Kwee Tiang An and Yah Kwee Pang. However, after Ross withdrew the script was put on hold. ........

Source: Wikipedia