Eulis Atjih
| Eulis Atjih | |
|---|---|
 Newspaper advertisement | |
| Directed by | George Krugers |
| Written by | Joehana |
| Starring |
|
Production company | Java Film Co. |
Release date |
|
| Country | Dutch East Indies |
Eulis Atjihis a 1927 film from theDutch East Indies(modern-day Indonesia); it was the second feature film produced in the country, afterLoetoeng Kasaroengin 1926. Thesilent filmfollows the lives of anative Indonesianfamily sent into poverty by the husband's splurging.Eulis Atjihwas a commercial success in the Indies, but failed in international markets.
Premise
[edit]Anative Indonesianman leaves his beautiful young wife Eulis Atjih and their child to lead a life of partying. She falls into poverty and, when he returns several years later, he is also poor.[1]
Production
[edit]Eulis Atjihwas produced by Java Film Co., which had made the first film in the Dutch East Indies,Loetoeng Kasaroeng,in 1926. The earlier film had left Java Film Coy in a poor financial after it underperformed; as such, forEulis Atjihthe company had to find financial backers.[2]The film was directed byGeorge Krugers[3]and based on the novel byJoehana.[4]The film featurednative Indonesianactors, including Arsad and Soekria. It was a black and white, silent film.[1]
Eulis Atjihwas the second film to include native Indonesians in its cast, and the second feature film produced in the country.[5]The native role was emphasised in the film's promotion; a poster for a screening at the Orient Theatre inSurabaya,for example, wrote that the film's native cast was equal to any American or European one.[6]Of note is the film's use of the word "Indonesia", which was not to be formalised as a preferred term for the archipelago until theYouth Pledgein 1928.[2]
Themes
[edit]The Indonesian film historianMisbach Yusa Biranwrites that the film educated Dutchmen through its depiction of native Indonesian rites, including funerals and marriage, as well as sent a message to native audiences that splurging would only result in poverty.[7]
Release and reception
[edit]Eulis Atjihwas released in 1927, being screened inBandungin August and in Surabaya in September.[2]It was a critical and commercial success in the country, especially among theethnic Chinesecommunity; the newspaperPewarta Soerabajawrote that the actress who played Eulis was "beautiful when her life was carefree, but looked like a villager when she fell poor."[a][7]In Surabaya, the film was accompanied by music from thekeronconggroup under Tuan Kayoon.[7]
For international release, the Java Film Co. and Krugers emphasised theethnographicaspects of the film. It was shown in Singapore, but was a commercial failure.[4]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^Original: "Pembawa peranan 'Eulis Atjih' terlihat tjanti' saat masih hidoep senang dan air moekanja beroebah seperti orang desa sesoedah djatoeh miskin."
References
[edit]- Footnotes
- ^abFilmindonesia.or.id, Eulis Atjih.
- ^abcBiran 2009,p. 72.
- ^Biran 2009,p. 97.
- ^abBiran 2009,p. 76.
- ^Biran 2009,p. 379.
- ^Biran 2009,p. 74.
- ^abcBiran 2009,p. 73.
- Bibliography
- Biran, Misbach Yusa(2009).Sejarah Film 1900-1950: Bikin Film di Jawa[History of Film 1900-1950: Making Films in Java] (in Indonesian). Komunitas Bamboo working with the Jakarta Art Council.ISBN978-979-3731-58-2.
- "Eulis Atjih".filmindonesia.or.id(in Indonesian). Jakarta: Konfidan Foundation. Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2013.Retrieved6 July2012.