Mutiara Sani

A remake of 1973 film of the same name. "Bulan di Atas Kuburan" is a tale of hardships in the capital city. Sahat, Tigor and Sabar ; three friends from Samosir, North Sumatra, quest after greatness whilst deperately holding on to their inner idealism.

Back when urbanization was a new phenomenon, this film captured the aspirations desired by three young men from North Sumatera of Batak ethnicity. As the case with other regional area, people from the rural realm were convinced that their way of live is inadequate, so that they "need" to make it in the city, or bust. So Sabar, Tigor and Sahat went up and down their luck in order to find their desired "gold" in a strange land.

Ateng and Iskak are two labourers. They meet Eddy Sud, a scholar-impostor and two eccentric men who carry a treasure map. They agree to look for the treasure. On their journey, the group meets two young girls. Ateng and Iskak start to flirt with the girls. Meanwhile, there is a group of criminals who wants to loot the treasure once they dig it up. However, the two eccentric men are just patients from the mental institution who are being trailed by the police.

As the time to retire comes, Abdurahman, a department employee who is honest, diligent and down-to-earth, has prepared himself. He manages to finish a university degree, with which he is sure that he can live his retirement period in peace with his six children. What happens is the opposite; he cannot get a new job. Susana, one of his daughters, becomes a prostitute. His wife, Ina in an effort to get money, is seduced by her own stepfather and is then caught in the act by her mother. On top of these troubles, his other daughter, Aminah, returns from abroad before finishing her studies because she is pregnant and is going through a mental breakdown. Corruption and the social depravity that it causes is the film’s theme.

Mbok Puspo’s cafe, at the edge of Kalimas, under Jembatan Merah or “Red Bridge”, is a meeting place for many. Mbok Puspo also sells rags for additional income while her adopted daughter, Sudiasih, runs the cafe and is the shining beauty of the place. The regulars are Ngawang, a small time thief who fails to make his wife happy; Kenanga, who becomes a prostitute to spite her husband; Siswanto, a student who does not have the courage to confess his love to Sudiasih; Pungguk the painter; a civil servant, and a postman. The love stories between Siswanto and Sudiasih; and Ngawang and Kenang are the central plots. Seeing Siswanto and Sudiasih’s love, Ngawang and Kenanga also find each other. Meanwhile, Mbok Puspo is in a dilemma when she receives a letter from her child, Sri Bidari, who was adopted by a rich family.

The arrest of Haji Jalaluddin during his sermon leaves a strong impression on the hearts of Hamid and Halimah, his followers. Halimah is a wife who is taken for granted by her husband who is pro-Dutch. Hamid is the son of a rich merchant who falls into poverty after being branded as a rebel. His mother takes him to Padang to be raised by the family of Haji Jakfar, who has a daughter, Zainab. Hamid then studies at Padang Panjang and meets old friends, Fakhrudin and Zainudin. Hamid and Fakhrudin have more similar views with their teacher, while Zainudin is more radical. The latter organises a rebellion and fails. The Dutch keeps arresting people. Hamid, disappointed by Zainab’s marriage to someone else, sails to Mecca. Halimah is left to organise the fight for freedom but in the end, is also captured by the Dutch. The film’s message is that a physical fight for freedom, without being based on religious morality, will become meaningless.