The Tiger from Tjampa [Harimau Tjampa] (Indonesian)
Directed by D. Djayakusuma, martial arts drama, 1953, run time 1:37
Set in the 1930s, and narrated like a ballad, The Tiger from Tjampa tells of how a young man, Lukman, seeks to avenge his father’s murder by learning pencak silat, or silek in Minangkabau language, a traditional form of self-defense specific to West Sumatra. Almost everything in the film is from West Sumatra, including its varied music, its dances and even the proverbial sayings that occur frequently in the dialogue. The film displays an intense spirit of community that underlies educational practices in this oral culture. The Tiger from Tjampa is not simply a story of revenge, but is really an exploration of the practice and philosophical bases of pencak silat, and its relation to Islamic values.