Maria Mutiara in Jakarta

Maria Mutiara in Jakarta: Maria is a young girl growing up in Minahasa, the northern region of the tropical island of Sulawesi. In the 1940‘s and 50‘s the region underwent a political and economic transition. What was once the colonial Dutch East Indies became the new country of Indonesia, and Maria and her family became Indonesian citizens. Maria goes to Jakarta to live out her dream. Her life as a TV announcer in the nation’s new television station takes her to meet the rich and famous, while she gains popularity as people recognize her from seeing her face on TV. This celebrity lifestyle is the epitome of modern culture. Her romances are a constant diversion but Maria is serious in her work and learns many new things about broadcasting during an internship at NHK, Japan’s TV station. While in Tokyo, she goes with friends to a concert performed by The Beatles! As a TV announcer, she introduces the television audience to well-known Indo artists The Blue Diamonds and Anneke Grönloh, accompanies the First Lady on her visit to Maria’s island of Sulawesi, and meets the President in person, who gives her and her boyfriend Don a Lontong (rice cake) Party!