Salah Asuhan (film)

Salah Asuhan (literally Wrong Upbringing, released internationally as The Misfit) is a 1972 film directed by Asrul Sani, produced by Andy Azhar, and starring Dicky Zulkarnaen, Ruth Pelupessy, and Rima Melati. Adapted from Abdoel Moeis' 1928 novel of the same name, it tells of a man who betrays his upbringing for the metropolitan life, while at the same time marrying an Indo woman instead of the one chosen by his mother.

Sani attempted to update the story to fit 1970s Indonesia, although the majority of the plot remained the same; critics have doubted his success, noting anachronistic worldviews. Salah Asuhan was runner-up for two awards given by the Indonesian Reporters' Society.

The Minangkabau Muslim Hanafi (Dicky Zulkarnaen) returns to West Sumatra after spending several years studying in Europe, paid for by his maternal uncle. In return, the uncle expects Hanafi to marry his cousin, Rapiah (Rima Melati). Hanafi, however, has become westernised and explicitly denounces the traditions his mother (Fifi Young) holds dear. He is also in love with his friend Corrie du Bussee (Ruth Pelupessy), who is half-French. Corrie's father (E. Draculic) tells her to go to Jakarta, as he fears that she will be unable to refuse Hanafi's advances. She does so, and Hanafi is married to Rapiah, although he soon shows himself to be an abusive husband.

Hanafi soon falls ill and is sent to Jakarta for treatment, where he meets Corrie. The two marry and move in together, leading to Hanafi becoming further westernised and, ultimately, a poor husband. While he is at work Corrie often meets with Tante Lim, a Chinese woman who, unknown to Corrie, is a procurer of prostitutes. Lim gives Corrie many gifts in effort to have Corrie become a prostitute, but when Corrie becomes aware of this goal she throws Lim out.