Sylvia Widiantono

A study of middle class life in Jakarta.

Togar, a student from North Sumatra is expected by his parents to graduate. Because his talent is in journalism, Togar fails and becomes a labourer in a cement factory. With the assistance of Buyung, Togar begins writing for a newspaper and then quits his job in the cement factory.

Although Ayu has been honest, Sutra is continuously haunted by the fact that Ayu was not a virgin when they married, even after five years of marriage. As a result, Sutra always faces problems in having sex with his wife. Then when he finds out that Ayu met her old friend, Manaseh, Sutra becomes increasingly suspicious and his mental state grows unstable. He himself has a relationship with Rhoda Darsono, who has a very possessive nature. This disturbs Sutra, who only wants to have fun with her. Just when Sutra starts to realise his mistake, he is murdered.

A portrait of newly married couple, Nurlela and Hasan, who have to live at the house of Nurlelas’s father. They do not have enough money to find a place of their own. Nurlela's father constantly compares Hasan negatively to his rich son-in-law Bakri (August Melasz), causes a friction between the young couple. Hasan and Nurlela fights when looking for their own way to be able to live independently. This situation makes them lie to each other, especially Hasan, who questions himself about his work and its environment. Hasan’s hard work to get off the family’s house eventually causes a misunderstanding. Nurlela almost commits suicide before the couple is able to trust each other again.

Set in Bandang in early 1930s, story concerns a young man who joins the anti-Dutch freedom movement. When his best friend is shot by police, he vows to assassinate the chief of police who gave the order to fire.