This Earth of Mankind (Bumi Manusia)

Credit: RumahKarangan IN A MOMENT, "INDONESIA RAYA," THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, WILL BE ECHOED.

DEAR AUDIENCES, PLEASE STAND UP.

[choir sings "Indonesia Raya" in Indonesian]

["Kulihat Ibu Pertiwi" by Iwan Fals, Once, Fiersa playing in Indonesian]

FROM THE MASTERPIECE OF PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER

The Indies. Dutch East Indies.

My motherland is learning a new word.

"Modern."

The word that catapults my mind to the other side of the world.

Europe.

Welcome, progress.

Please enjoy all these newfound things.

Inventions of new technologies that shorten ways and distances.

I was lucky to experience that in my youth.

Mesmerized by the charms of European science and ideas,

I got swept away...

forgetting my roots as a native.

People beneath the Dutch and the mixed.

The people who become guests in their own motherland,

molded to look up to the greatness of Europeans.

European education. European lifestyle.

Minke.

Hey! Minke!

Hey, Minke! Hey!

Open the door, Minke!

Hey!

Sir.

What are you doing here?

-Minke! - Are you sure he's inside?

Where else can he be? I'm his only friend.

Have you checked at Jean Marais'?

Minke! You sleepyhead.

What is this smell?

Ah... Max Havelaar.

-You are so miserable! -Suurhof!

-A pervert and a dreamer. -Suurhof!

All you can do is dream.

Come, Minke. Let's go out and feast your eyes.

There's a lot of people gathering in the street.

So what, Suurhof? What's out there?

Minke, you forgot it's her coronation today?

Honey, I'm going.

It's starting already?

Stop.

Mama!

Raden Mas Mulyo.

Ready?

One, two, three.

This is going to Wonokromo.

And that to Tanjung Perak.

Please.

This ice cream is the greatest invention, Minke!

The human brain can not only transform the wooden ship into the steamboat,

it can bring cold air to tropical lands.

Come on, move it. Hurry!

It tastes weird.

You and your Javanese palate.

Let's go there.

KRANGGAN - SURABAYA

I want to talk to you about something.

Hey!

That is a private club for Dutch of pure blood!

Relax. I'm here.

You're a mixed-blood, not a pure-blood. Let's leave.

NO NATIVES OR DOGS ALLOWED

Come on.

Suurhof...

Stop. What are you doing here?

-This is a Dutch private club. - We don't intend to enter--

Speak in Malay. Dutch is not for monkeys to speak.

-Out. - Let's go somewhere else.

- My mood's ruined. - Go on!

- Come on, Suurhof! - Here?

I said to look for another café.

-Not this place. - Just shut up.

What is so important that you woke me up this early?

Annelies Mellema.

Who is that?

You local playboy. You're so lame.

This one is in Wonokromo. She's of mixed-race.

More beautiful than the girl in your treasured photo.

And? What does she have to do with me?

Ah, the question I have been waiting for.

If you are a real man, I happen to know her brother.

Robert Mellema. We're fans of the same football team.

In a few days, I'll be visiting his place.

I will pick you up.

No. I'm swamped with work.

Go find someone else.

Chicken. You haven't even entered the ring.

Deal!

Deal.

See you later, ma'am. See you, Sastro.

Minke.

You sure you want to hang out with him?

Don't you know what people are saying about him?

What? His mother tried to give birth on a ship

so he'd be considered pure-blooded Dutch?

Not only that.

If science ever invents a blood-washing machine,

he'll be first in line to wash off his native blood.

All right.

See you.

Take care.

- What is this? - Hey, Minke.

Why rent such a fancy carriage, Suurhof?

This is more than fancy. It has special springs.

Twice the price of the carriage itself.

This golden chariot will carry you to court the girl of your dreams,

and me to eat veal. Cool, right?

-Veal? -Exactly.

That's how wealthy they are.

You'll thank me later.

After you, my good sir.

If this Annelies is as beautiful as you say,

why not take her yourself?

SURABAYA DAILY NEWS

She's mixed-race.

Even if she is as beautiful as a rose, she's still not of pure blood.

I only go for Dutch of pure blood.

One hundred percent European.

You are too naive, Minke.

The world is a like a garden.

Colorful.

But the stem of a tulip

is still worth more than a bunch of roses.

- -Ow!

- My mangoes! - Hey, stop!

- You stupid woman! - What's wrong with him?

- Look what you have done! -

- Come here! - I'm sorry, master.

CONCUBINES AND SLAVERY

I need a tulip.

Not a rose or even a nyai .

Nyai!

- This is yours. - Thanks, miss.

You too, Minke.

You'll be a regent someday.

The next time we meet, I'll just have one question.

"How many do you have in your harem?"

You think so little of our race?

I am a Javanese

who'll never have a harem, Suurhof.

I also won't be a regent, ever.

Such bullshit.

Minke.

You see that place?

I bet you're going to end up in that opium den...

...owned by Babah Ah Tjong!

Ah! We're here, Minke.

My name is Robert Suurhof.

I'm a guest of your master, Robert Mellema.

BUITENZORG ESTATE

Mellema.

- How are you? - Good.

I brought a friend. Is that OK?

Minke, Robert. Robert, Minke.

Just Minke?

No family name?

Parjiah!

Two ginger drinks, and one plain water.

Suurhof, how will our team fare?

The next opponent is tough.

You're such a pessimist. We just won the last match!

Because last week's opponent was weak.

Suurhof, this next one is second in the league standings.

Miss Annelies, how are you?

Good.

Thank you.

Annelies Mellema.

Minke.

When are we going hunting?

Just Minke?

- So shameless. - Pitiful.

I'm a native.

Sit down.

Come, sit.

What's wrong with being a native?

My mom is a native.

Javanese.

Why take pride in that, Annelies?

I'm just stating the facts. Why? Am I wrong?

Your guest is my guest now.

Let's go inside, Minke.

Come.

Phonograph.

Edison, from America.

The steam locomotive. A modern invention.

Suurhof, come. Let's get changed first.