Melati van Agam (1931 film)

Melati van Agam also written Melatie van Agam literally Jasmine of Agam is a 1931 romance film directed by Lie Tek Swie and produced by Tans Film. Starring A. Rachman, Neng Titi, Oemar, and Bachtiar Effendi, the twopart 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.

After her marriage Norma is taken away to Kota Raja, Aceh now Banda Aceh, where she must raise Nazzaruddins children. Their marriage becomes increasingly unhappy, with Nazzaruddin unable to handle his wifes Western education and Norma sinking further into a depression after hearing of Idrus death. Pregnant, Norma returns to Fort de Kock. After she delivers her child, Nazzaruddin divorces her he thinks the child resembles Idrus. Eventually Norma commits suicide and is buried next to Idrus. Nazzaruddin sees her spirit take Idrus in hand as they ascend to heaven together.Melati van Agam was produced by the ethnicChinese owned Tans Film. It was adapted from a Toneel Melajoe drama written by the reporter Parada Harahap which had proved popular Tans earlier work, Njai Dasima 1929, had also been an adaptation. However, unlike the earlier production Melati van Agam dealt with a thenrelatively unknown culture previous works had dealt with ethnic groups from Java. The Indonesian film historian Misbach Yusa Biran suggests that this may have been caused by the director Lie Tek Swie working with the Sumatranborn reporter Andjar Asmara. The film abandoned the love letters that had formed much of the source material, focusing instead on actions. ........

Source: Wikipedia