Buah Hati Mama

Directed by Sophan Sophiaan

With the theme song, Indonesia Tanah Pusaka, the film’s melodrama takes on a nationalistic undertone. Hendrik Maulana, a staff officer in the Netherlands’ Indonesian Embassy, and his half-Dutch wife Nona, return to Indonesia. Hendrik is aware that he has to work hard in his country to support his family. So he trains as an air traffic controller before he returns home. However, there is still the cultural clash and his children have to adjust to school and their hometown. Then Eka, their second child, who is always the scapegoat of the family, runs away. Eka is attracted to an orphan ice seller who can support himself. He joins him selling the ice until he is stricken with typhus. His friend then breaks the news to Hendrik and Nona. Both parents rally with their three children, to complete the family again.