article for May 7, 2019
Article of the day for May 7, 2019 is Harta Berdarah . Harta Berdarah (Bloody Treasure) is a 1940 action film from the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Directed by the recently hired Rd Ariffien and R Hu for Union Films, the film was written by the journalist Saeroen, who attempted to draw educated Native Indonesian audiences. Starring Zonder and Soelastri, it tells of a young man who convinces a stingy hadji to be more charitable and, in the process, falls in love with the man's daughter. Released during Eid al-Fitr (a Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan), Harta Berdarah was advertised as a "magnificent Indonesian action hit". It used Zonder's silat martial arts skills and Soelastri's fame as a traditional keroncong singer to draw audiences. Reviews for the work were positive, with praise focused on its acting and story. Although Harta Berdarah was screened as late as 1944, as with most contemporary productions it is now likely lost.
