''Tropic of Emerald'' or '' De gordel van smaragd '' is a 1997 Dutch

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Orlow Seunke Orlow Seunke (born 22 September 1952) is a Dutch director, screenwriter and producer. Life and career Born in Amsterdam, Seunke studied at the Dutch Film Academy, graduating in 1975. After directing several shorts and TV works, he made his feat ...

Plot

From

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, Theo Staats came to Soekamadjoe near

Depok en, Starfruit City , motto = ''Pariraca Darma''(Servant of the righteousness) , image_map = Map of West Java highlighting Depok City.svg , mapsize = , map_caption ...

, Dutch East Indies in 1925 to help his Oom on his Oom's rubber plantation in several plots of land. Theo was guided by an

Indo Indo may refer to: * Indo-, a prefix indicating India or the Indian Subcontinent * Indonesia, a country in Asia ** INDO LINES, callsign of Indonesian Airlines ** Indo people, people of mixed European and Indonesian ancestry ** Indo cuisine, fusion ...

''mandeur'' (plantation field manager) named Boon. Theo met Ems, an Indo cafe singer in Soekamadjoe. Ems was Dr. Herman's wife. Theo was involved in illicit love and infidelity with Ems. But Ems could not leave Herman due to her respect to his husband. Yet, the

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

broke out in Europe 1939. All Dutch citizens anywhere must take military service, including Dutch East Indies which Japan was the biggest threat in Asia-Pacific. During Asia-Pacific theatre, the Dutch East Indies fell into Japanese army in 1942. Herman was killed by the Japanese and Theo was taken to a concentration camp and his Oom's rubber plantation was taken over by the Japanese. Ems attempted to help Theo and asked for the Japanese commandant to give Theo a special protection, but the Japanese commandant promised to release Theo only if Ems let her body to satisfy the commandant's sexual appetite. The war was end when Japan declared surrender unconditionally on 15 August 1945. All Dutch captives raised the Dutch flag in camp and thought their misery finally ended. But the national extremists pro

independence of Indonesia The Proclamation of Indonesian Independence ( id, Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Indonesia, or simply ''Proklamasi'') was read at 10:00 on Friday, 17 August 1945 in Jakarta. The declaration marked the start of the diplomatic and armed resistance of t ...

called ''

Barisan Pelopor The ''Suishintai'' ( ja, 推進体, Suishintai, Pioneer Corps, id, Barisan Pelopor) was the paramilitary youth wing of the '' Jawa Hōkōkai'' (ジャワ奉公会, "Javanese Service Society") which was formed in August 1944 by its leader Sukarno, ...

'' held sweeping which was allegedly a Dutch accomplice. The Pelopor snatched and killed the Dutch and Indo civilians by using sharpened bamboo, ax, machete, and booty firearms from Japanese in everywhere. The Dutch houses and plantations were damaged by Pelopor (some were taken over), as well as some infrastructure buildings and also the camp. Theo and Ems moved around hiding from the Pelopor's brutal anger. This massive chaos was well known as

Bersiap ''Bersiap'' is the name given by the Dutch to a violent and chaotic phase of the Indonesian National Revolution following the end of World War II. The Indonesian word ''bersiap'' means 'get ready' or 'be prepared'. The ''Bersiap'' period last ...

(''Masa Bersiap / Bersiap-tijd''). Theo's Oom and Boon came back to their rubber plantation but the people already took over the place. Oom was killed by people. There were no safe places for Theo and Ems during Bersiap. In 1949, the Netherlands acknowledged Indonesian sovereignty. In order to recovery the situation, both governments gave opportunity for the Dutch and Indo civilians in Indonesia to choose citizenship, a Dutch or an Indonesian. Once they choose, they were never allowed to visit the country one another. Many of Indos chose the Dutch citizenship because they could not feel safe in Indonesia. So this means the Indos had to leave their motherland (Indonesia) to the fatherland (the Netherlands). Theo chose Dutch citizenship, but Ems chose Indonesian citizenship. Theo came home to the Netherlands and left his love Ems in Indonesia.

Cast

Pierre Bokma Pierre Henri Martin Bokma (born 20 December 1955 in Paris) is a Dutch stage, television and film actor. Bokma received his professional training at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts. In November 2007 he won an International Emmy Award fo ...

... Theo Staats * Esmée de la Bretonière ... Ems * Christine Hakim ... Soeti *

Bram van der Vlugt Bram van der Vlugt (28 May 1934 – 19 December 2020) was a Dutch actor. He is known for playing the role of Sinterklaas for over two decades. He died on 19 December 2020, at the age of 86, after contracting COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic ...

... Herman * Frans Tumbuan ... Boon * José Rizal Manua ... Amat *

Piet Kamerman Piet may refer to: People * Piet (given name), a common name in the Netherlands and South Africa * Henri Piet (1888–1915), French lightweight boxer * Tony Piet (1906–1981), American Major League Baseball player Schools * Purushottam Institut ...

... Oom * Hiromi Tojo ... Japanese Officer * Tio Djarot ... Tjipto * Elske Falkena ... Marijke * Ivan F. Aldino ... Ondervrager *

H.I.M. Damsyik Hajji Incik Muhammad Damsyik (14 March 1929 – 3 February 2012), better known as HIM Damsyik or Datuk Maringgih was an Indonesian dancer and actor. Biography Damsyik was born in Teluk Betung, Lampung, Dutch East Indies on 14 March 1929. His f ...

... Kleermaker * Jajang Pamontjak ... Naaister

External links

* Indo people 1997 films 1990s Dutch-language films 1997 drama films Dutch drama films {{Netherlands-film-stub