Wadjah Seorang Laki-Laki

Wadjah Seorang Laki-laki (Perfected Spelling Wajah Seorang Laki-laki, released internationally as Ballad of a Man) is a 1971 Indonesian film directed by Teguh Karya. It marked his directorial debut.

In 19th-century Batavia (modern day Jakarta) a young man, Amallo (Slamet Rahardjo), rises up against his father, Umbu Kapitan (WD Mochtar), after his father's boorishness and irresponsibility lead to his mother's death. This is sparked by the father's subsequent marriage to a mixed-race woman. Amallo begins stealing horses from his father and smuggling weapons used to fight against the Dutch East India Company, for whom his father works.

As Amallo struggles against the Company, he finds himself becoming more mature. He also becomes the lover of several beautiful women, including a Dutchman's mistress, a cokek dancer, and a woman (Tuti Indra Malaon) who owns a store in his village. However, he is betrayed by his friend Runtu (N. Riantiarno). After being arrested by the Dutch and later released, he continues stealing horses. However, when caught again he is fatally shot by his father, who had been unaware that the horse thief was his own son.

Teguh Karya directed Wadjah Seorang Laki-laki; it was his first feature film. He also wrote the screenplay. Before this, he had acted in several films, been a cinematographer for Wim Umboh's film Sembilan (1967), and directed several serials.

Karya involved numerous actors from his theatre group, Teater Populer. At the time few theatre actors worked in Indonesian film. Rahardjo, who was a member of Teater Populer, made his film debut as Amallo; Karya later recalled that his acting in the film was stiff. The singer Laila Sari received a minor role as one of Rahardjo's love interests. In filming a sex scene between the two, they used a pillow to separate their bodies.