vrijdag 13 september 2019

Bumi Manusia (2019) Movie Review

Hello, Maders! Bumi Manusia has become a movie adapted from a novel written by Pramoedya Ananta Toer. The novel is super thick and expensive. Therefore, I decide to watch the movie at cinema.

The story is about the self image of being an Indonesian native, mixed blood, and Dutch. As long as the colonialism, it will be difficult for Indonesian natives get education and prosperous life. On the other hand, Indonesian royal family will have better life than ordinary people. Mixed blood between Indonesian and Dutch has special right. Dutch is the highest position among all.

Minke is the son of a regent. He’s smart, so he studies in a school that is only for mixed blood and Dutch. He’s the only native there. Minke has original name, Tirto. People call him Minke to relate him with ‘monkey’. The first person who says so is his teacher at school. Then, Minke is used to having this nickname. He doesn’t mind.

Suurhof is Minke’s close friend who introduces him with a beautiful mixed blood girl named Annelies. Actually Suurhof likes Annelies but Annelies never replies his letters. Suurhof’s intention to bring Minke is to boast in front of Annelies. But Annelies and Minke fall in love and Suurhof gets disappointed. Suurhof treats Minke badly at school.

The conflict is when the marriage of Annelies and Minke not approved by Dutch ministry. Nyai Ontosoroh, Annelies’ mother, is a concubine. According to Dutch law, she doesn’t have right to take care of Annelies after the death of Annelies’ father. Annelies must go to Netherlands and have a new guardian.

Both Nyai Ontosoroh and Minke struggle for their right to keep Annelies. I cannot explain clearly because this movie is complicated enough to tell. The best way is to watch the movie by yourself or read the novel. This movie made me cry twice.


There are jokes inside this story although the plot is nerve-racking. Well, I think that’s all. Dank je wel, Maders! Tot zo!

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