Synopsis
(title translation: Barren Land)
Joni is lonely as his father is preoccupied by politics and his sexual exploits, while his mother is perpetually depressed. Then Joni befriends Jusuf and Sukandar and the three of them start to rob Chinese-run stores. Joni merely wants to channel his hatred towards rich people and to allow his friends to have a taste of wealth. But Joni also becomes wilder in his sexual escapades. He sleeps with a lonely wife; he dates Lisa the singer, and then her sister, Dewi. During a robbery, he involuntarily kills someone. This changes his life as he decides to quit robbing. Dewi’s mother opposes his relationship with her so he runs off with Dewi to Medan and Prapat. There he meets a priest who marries them. Two of his friends are arrested, while the police start hunting Joni. Joni chooses to end his life by jumping into Lake Toba.