Oeroeg

Fire!

Wrong, private Blockhead!

- The name's Twan Mortier, major!

Look, private Blockhead...

That way the wogs will get you!

You enter a shack, some

rice-eater by the door...

So what happens?

How should you do it?

They're next to the

door, so first?

He won't be calling

'Mardeka' any more.

Mardeka, sergeant!..

You put the stress wrong.

The time has come, men. We're on

our way to Indonesia.

At first you will be dazed by new

impressions and experiences.

Yet you should stop and think why

you are making this journey.

Why you soldiers are heading

for the tropics.

The farm hands from Wolvega.

The butcher's boy from Rotterdam.

The student from Utrecht.

A cross section of our people

and all their lives.

We come together

several months ago.

Civilians from all walks of life

who reported to barracks.

In the brief short time we have

spent in transit barracks...

...the first changes have taken place.

How do you spell 'Teun'?

- Teun...

T- E-...

'Rasa sayang, rasa sayang sayang '

'Oh that girl is so far away'

'Rasa sayang'

Can you see anything?

I can't see anything at all.

It can't be a water spirit,

you can't see them.

If you can't see it, how do you know

it's the water spirit?

You can't talk about spirits like that

You'll make Neneh Kombel angry.

Urug? I'm afraid.

Don't do that, Johan!

Neneh Kombel will get mad.

I saw it.

I saw it! I saw Neneh Kombel!

That's impossible. Neneh Kombel

is an ugly old woman.

She lives in the trees.

But I saw the spirit, with a beard.

How do we go back now?

Johan!

Johan!

- Urug!

Dad!

Look, there! Rescue them quickly!

Rescue the children!

Don't talk guna-guna nonsense, Deppoh.

Go rescue them.

You stay in your room

all day, understood!

Don't set a foot outside!

That kampong boy has a bad

influence on you.

But Dad!

- I don't want to hear another word.

Don't play with the master's son or

go to the big house any more!

It gives you strange ideas.

Yes, Dad, but...

- I don't wan't to hear another word.

T- A-P-E...

- And that is?

Very good! And?

- R-I-C-E...

And that is?

- Rice!

Good, and then?

Mean!

- Very good.

If you take the T from

tape, you get?

Tape... Ape!

Good. Write that down.

If you leave the R

off "Rice", you get?

What was that?

'Near or far, we'll always be brothers. '

Johan, what are you doing?

What did you say?

'Saya a looking at the bulan'

I don't understand.

You're a Dutchman, boy,

speak Dutch!

I'm looking at the moon, Dad.

- Moon...

Very good.

Go to sleep.

Sleep tight.

Lieutenant...

How did you know about Mer...

- Merdeka.

I was born there.

- Really?

I wonder what it'll be like?

The finest country in the world.

Nice people, delicious food...

All kinds of fruit, satay...

Pisang goreng...

- Pisang what?

That's fried banana.

- They eat that?

You will too, just wait.

It won't be easy, because

you don't get to enjoy the best...

.. of that beautiful country.

You will understand why you

have to defend our colony.

There was once a basis here...

A basis of justice, peace and order.

The Japanese invasion and

their abuse...

...radically destroyed this basis.

Police!

Watch out, snipers!

There!

Up there!

Indonesia merdeka!

Finest country in the world!

Fried banana!

Pisang goreng!

I hope we've arranged everything.

You have somewhere to stay?

I think I have written everything down.

I wish you all the best, goodbye.

Lida!

- Johan.

Hello.

A lot has happened.

Eight years is a long time.

How long have you been out...

...of the concentration camp?

- I was never in a camp.

I thought the Japs interned everyone.

- I kept out of their hands.

I went into hiding.

You look wonderful.

I'm looking for father.

Yes, he was here.

Come with me.

Good morning, Miss Banning.

- The very man I was looking for.

This is Johan ten Berghe.

He was in Struiswijk Camp with your

father.

You're his son!

My name is Van Amerongen,

remember me?

Uncle Chris!

Come to our room. It will

do Valerie good to see you.

Do come.

The Japs broke all of us.

Your father has done what we can't.

He's left Batavia.

To go where?

- We don't know. Probably back...

What? To the plantation?

To Kebon Jati?

But that's much too dangerous!

They say it's enemy territory.

The TNI is in control.

Your father return to Kebon Jati

as soon as he was free.

He talked about you so much recently.

Valerie, look who's here.

Johan...

Hendrik's son!

Why did you come back?

Valerie, you can see...

No, not just that...

I wanted to see the

East Indies again.

This place?

- Valerie, really...

First the Japs, then the extremists

with their Red & White!

They want to get rid of us!

She's confused. It's

the camp and here...

Where are we going?

- Kebon Jati.

Kebon Jati?

- My father's there.

The lieutenant has leave?

- The lieutenant's taken leave.

Stop here.

WHAT ARE YOU DYING FOR,

DUTCH SOLDIER?

I say, Twan...

I'll go on alone now.

- Listen...

if they ask where I am...

I had to meet my father

- I'm going too.

I can't ask you that...

We're not allowed any further.

We're a team. I'm your

driver, aren't I?

Twan, just stay here.

I'll skirt the lake up there.

Cover me from here. Look...

Hey, that's...

That's the house on the photo!

- Yes,that's Kebon Jati.

If I'm not back in an hour,

just go back.

I can't do that!

- Mortier,

Do as you're told!

Pisang gorng.

- Pisang gorng.

Halt!

Hands up... Hurry!

Hold that sten gun up!

That way...

Urug?

Father!

Johan!

Nothing!

Three cheers for the Queen!

Deppoh!

Do you like it?

It suits you perfectly

Real worsted. Good as new.

You couldn't afford that in a lifetime.

You're right, Mr Ten Berghe.

You can go home.

Today is a feast for you too.

- Thank you, sir.

Look, look!

Can it walk over razorblades?

...equalised a little.

- No car can survive otherwise.

Nothing to be done

I'm sorry.

It'll take a week to

get it repaired.

What about the tea?

Or are you changing to quinine?

Valerie!

- Thank you.

No. Auction prices for tea are fine.

The Queen!

- The Queen!

Why should I produce quinine?

Excuse me...

I say, Hendrik...

Lida is a smart lady.

When did she come to the Indies?

- Long ago. She runs a lodging house.

She teaches Johan twice a week.

Look Urug, what a big one!

That can fight!

Put it down.

- No, not with the slug!

And this frog, what about that?

- Just put it here.

Look out, he's off!

- He can't do that?

Ouch! It pecks so creepily!

Johan, don't get yourself dirty.

Urug, go home.

Miss Banning..

If Johan asks

about his mother...

...then say she's ill...

in Holland.

You're the best dancer, Johan!

Your son is a fine lad!

Everybody!

Let's go swimming.

Where is Deppoh?

Ali, call Deppoh.

- Yes, master.

Lay out some towels.

Bring the car round.

Get food and drink ready, Ali!

Come swimming with us!

Brilliant idea!

But it's bewitched, Neneh Kombel!

- Don't talk rubbish!

But Urug says all kinds of

spirits live there.

Ask Deppoh! Deppoh! Deppoh! Deppoh!

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