Air Mata Iboe

This film tells the story of two girls, Karina and Roesdjana, who have conflicting characters and habits. While Karina is traditional, Roesdjana is modern.

Featuring the clash between modern thinking against traditional conservatism, the story has the troubled romance between the noble princess, RA Rusmini, and the peasant, Bachtiar. This film ends with compromise, that there is nothing wrong with either modernity or tradition.

Mbok Puspo’s cafe, at the edge of Kalimas, under Jembatan Merah or “Red Bridge”, is a meeting place for many. Mbok Puspo also sells rags for additional income while her adopted daughter, Sudiasih, runs the cafe and is the shining beauty of the place. The regulars are Ngawang, a small time thief who fails to make his wife happy; Kenanga, who becomes a prostitute to spite her husband; Siswanto, a student who does not have the courage to confess his love to Sudiasih; Pungguk the painter; a civil servant, and a postman. The love stories between Siswanto and Sudiasih; and Ngawang and Kenang are the central plots. Seeing Siswanto and Sudiasih’s love, Ngawang and Kenanga also find each other. Meanwhile, Mbok Puspo is in a dilemma when she receives a letter from her child, Sri Bidari, who was adopted by a rich family.

The music score in this film is performed by Oriental Novelty Five, a Hawaiian music group.

The film featured 12 keroncong hits and is considered as the first musical film in Indonesia