Pitung 1: Si Pitung (1970) Movie Review, Film Still and Poster

Indonesia 1970
Director: Nawi Ismail
Cast: Dicky Zulkarnaen, Sandy Suwardi, A. Hamid Arief, Fifi Young, M. Pandji Anom, Rina Hassim, Paula Rumokoy, H. Mansursyah, Conny Sutedja
Rating: Dewasa (Adult)
Language: Bahasa Indonesia
VCD Quality: Poor/Decent/Excellent
Release Date: 1970; 3 February 2006 (VCD)
Running Length: 1 hour 54 minutes 12 seconds

The Movie Review

Pitung 1: Si Pitung film still 1


PITUNG 1: SI PITUNG
Storyline:
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Back in Elementary school, remember how you used to memorize the names and photos of Indonesian Heroes just for the sake of passing the tests? We learn many great and noble heroes like Pangeran Diponegoro, Cut Nyak Dhien, R.A. Kartini and Kapiten Patimura, to name a few. But do you know how Bang Pitung the great Betawi hero looked like...? Well, I don't either, but at least a great man like him did exist and walked the land of old Jakarta to protect the villagers from the cruel hands of the Netherlands soldiers or more precisely the soldiers of VOC/Dutch East India Company. And I think it's worth the time to at least know what he did, of course through seeing a series of Pitung movies that are started with this entry, Si Pitung, which was released in 1970.

As is common with other epic movies about legendary people, Si Pitung also tells mainly about the heroic acts of Bang Pitung and his uniquely interesting friend, Ji'ih. Bang Pitung is played by the famous Dicky Zulkarnaen and Bang Ji'ih is played by Sandy Suwardi. The film begins with Bang Pitung is watching from a distance how the villagers being physically and verbally abused and tortured by the Netherlands' Soldiers. Surely afterwards Pitung settles the score with the soldiers. As Pitung goes through his village, he notices unusual circumstances, like seeing how the poor people who used to have large area land are forced to give their land to the local landlords who are mostly Chinese. Pitung's money is also got stollen when he's preparing to do daily pray.

Soon, Pitung's loyal friend, Ji'ih joins him and agrees completely with Pitung's principles of defending the weak from the local tyrants. They then fan out across the village to seek justice in behalf of those who are opressed and mistreated. Pitung is a good and pious man who is also very adapt and excels in Martial Arts, thanks to his Teacher Kong Haji Naipin. And Pitung should also thank two-fold to Kong Haji Naipin (M. Pandji Anom) since he is also dating Aisyah (Paula Rumokoy), Kong Haji Naipin's lovely, meek and caring daughter. Fate entwined between Pitung, Aisyah and Kong Haji Naipin is actually much more complicated... Even though Pitung has made enemies first with Schout van Hinne (A. Hamid Arief) and Demang Meester, but it is actually through Kong Haji Naipin himself, Pitung realizes that Schout van Hinne and Demang will also be Pitung's most heartless nemesis, Mr. Schout van Hinne the Netherlands official and Demang the right hand of Schout van Hinne. But the most dreaded of all, is Demang, who is notorious for being a perverted womanizer and who has personal intention to Aisyah. What will happen to Pitung and Aisyah?

So, easily put...Pitung is the Indonesian version of Robin Hood, where he and his fellow heroes rob the filthy rich people and give the gold and money to the poor. This film also acts as an introduction to let us know about Pitung. I'm not saying that Si Pitung is the VCD version of learning history, but when a movie purpose seems only to acquaint the audience with the title character, well... I must say that had the movie executed or filled more with entertainment elements, it would have been more saucier to watch.

Si Pitung is definitely not a bad movie not at all, some upsides still sprinkled throughout the whole running time. Sprinkled? Yup, as in half-heartedly executed. There are jokes here and there, but only enough to make the viewers smile, and there are several romantic scenes to be found between Pitung and Aisyah. But the biggest selling point of this classic Indonesian movie is that it's rather packed with action, ranging from fist fight to using Golok (one of Indonesian traditional swords, similar to Machete), and even gun fight.

Now, from the acting standpoint...Well...this movie is glittered with famous Indonesian actors and actresses, ranging from (of course) Dicky Zulkarnaen who had starred in more than 80 movies! And in 1970 alone he starred in 7 movies which two of them were directed by Nawi Ismail; Sandy Suwardi who also had directed several movies such as Ratapan Anak Tiri (1974), Pengantin Remaja 2 (1982), Krakatau (1977); A. Hamid Arief who had starred in assorted movie genres, including comedy movies with Benyamin and Warkop comedy group; Rina Hassim who had been nominated and won several times for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress in Indonesian Film Festival; and of course the great actress Fifi Young who had marked her name solidly in Indonesian movie realm.

However such unfortunate, that Si Pitung is a quite rare movie which sequels, especially Banteng Betawi (1971) proof to be better. The thing is, The story in Si Pitung is not as emotionally involved as in Banteng Betawi, and Si Pitung is even worsen by the rough cut of censorship. Si Pitung may not suit fellow moviegoer who is not into action movie, especially concerning the VCD quality that is only a little bit higher than being "Poor" but still decent enough to watch. It may probably only suit you just fine if you have watched and decide to collect the entire entries of Pitung.