Nji Ronggeng

(title translation: The Ronggeng Dancer)

Amidst the election rivalry of two villages for the village head post, Cigugur and Cijulang, a troupe of Ronggeng artists, with its prima donna, Sari, arrives at the sub-district center for their regular performance. Sari and Dadang, the son of the Village Elder of Cijulang, are in love with each other. Dadang is also running as a candidate in the village head elections. But Ohim, the son of the Cigugur Village Elder, is also madly in love with Sari. He gets even more daring after a humiliating incident when he tries to touch Sari’s hair bun on the ronggeng stage. The touching of the hair bun is one of the rituals in the traditional art of Ronggeng. Dadang’s father is angered by his son’s relationship with Sari, since it could jeopardize his candidacy as the head of the village. Dadang, hardworking and well-mannered, however remains adamant. He is contrasted with Ohim who is boastful and a womanizer. Ohim is attracted by Sari as, unlike any of her friends in the Ronggeng troupe, her affection is not for sale. Sari's stance is formed by her traumatic past when her mother, also a Ronggeng dancer, died after being fought over among men. The competition culminates during a local festival when the Cigugur participants lose all the contests held. But when Ohim makes a challenge in the ujungan game (martial arts fight between two persons), he successfully wins them all, except for Dadang who defeats him. Ohim however rejects the results until Sari steps in and tries to reconcile the rivals. She blames the elders for perpetuating the conflict with their hunger for power. Aside from promoting the Sundanese traditional arts of Ronggeng, this film also speaks against the negative stereotyping of its performers. It successfully depicts the eroticism and sensuality of Ronggeng. Arguably, this is the best film directed by Alam Surawidjaja.