Lewat Tengah Malam
| Lewat Tengah Malam | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster
|
|
| Directed by | Sjumandjaja |
| Produced by | Chan Pattimura |
| Screenplay by | Sjumandjaja |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Trisutji Djuliati Djulham |
| Cinematography | Akin |
|
Production
company |
Allied Film of Indonesia
|
|
Release date
|
|
| Country | Indonesia |
| Language | Indonesian |
Lewat Tengah Malam (literally Past Midnight) is a 1971 Indonesian film and the first feature-length production by director Sjumandjaja. Starring Rachmat Hidayat, Rima Melati, and Soekarno M. Noer, it follows a thief named Lono who steals from the corrupt to give to the poor. The film, which may have been influenced by The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), was reportedly very tiring for the director, who briefly considered never directing again. The social realist elements led to Suharto's New Order government keeping Sjumandjaja under surveillance.
Lono (Rachmat Hidayat) is a former revolutionary soldier who has become a criminal, recognised by the Alfa Romeo-produced car he drives. He robs the rich, corrupt government officials and gives the money to the poor, leaving a black glove at the scene of his crimes as a calling card. His elder brother Djoko (Soekarno M. Noer), however, is a police officer tasked with stopping Lono.
In his crimes Lono is supported by Sukma (Rima Melati), a law student whose father has been crippled in a staged hit-and-run accident for his work as an anti-corruption activist. As she falls in love with Lono, Sukma discovers his background and becomes increasingly understanding of Lono's motivations.
After Lono's final heist, a theft from a major corruptor named Ongko (Wim Umboh) in the capital city of Jakarta, he goes to his brother's house nearby. The two reminisce on old times until Djoko says that he must arrest Lono; the latter comes willingly. Sukma agrees to defend Lono in court.
Sjumandjaja, who had previously written several screenplays and spent six years studying film in the Soviet Union, made his feature directorial debut with Lewat Tengah Malam. He also wrote the film's story. Sjumandjaja was reportedly often ill on set owing to the shooting happening late at night; on one occasion his wife, the ballerina Farida Utoyo, was called from a vacation in Bali to deal with her husband's illness.
...
Wikipedia