Take Me Away

Abdul Rauf is a novelist. On his journey to find inspiration in the war-torn Vietnam, Rauf loses a friend in a battle. He feels the destruction of human dignity in war. In addition, Rauf fails to win the love of Bulan, the girl of his dream as her mother considers that he has no future. When he goes to Singapore, he meets Kartika, the guitar player and daughter of Dr. Ibrahim Mahmud M.A., an Indonesian dictionary researcher. Kartika happens to be a friend of Rauf’s cousin, Ria, and they have just returned from Tokyo and stopped in Singapore to visit Ria’s parent who is a diplomat. Kartika, who is spoiled by her father, is attracted to Rauf and they fall in love. Kartika’s father does not like Rauf as the latter once dubbed him as a lice-seeking grandpa. Dr. Mahmud then becomes sympathetic after he reads Rauf’s latest novel given to him by Kartika.

Directed by M.T. Risyaf, Take Me Away leans on a strong ensemble — Roy Marten, Muni Cader, Maria Oentoe — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1981.