Bidasari is a 1965 Malaysian black-and-white romantic-drama film starring Jins Shamsuddin and Sarimah. The film is notable as having dialogue that is written almost completely as rhyming poetry. The story is based on the very popular romantic Malay poem during 18th and 19th century in the Malay world, Syair Bidasari, believed to be written as early as 1750 A.D. (based on Kembayat Negara annals) and mentioned by Dr. J. Leyden in 1807 A.D. as Hikaiat Bida Sari (Bidasari Annals), which has some similarities with the western fairy-tale of Snow White that was published by The Brothers Grimm in 1812 A.D. of their fairy-tale collection book.Synopsis
A simple merchant and his young son are out in the woods when he discovers a drifting boat in a river. The boat contains a baby girl, along with a bowl containing a live goldfish. The merchant realises the baby is unusual because her life is bonded to the fish: if the fish leaves the water, the baby stops breathing. The merchant adopts the baby as his own and names her Bidasari. Years later Bidasari grows up into a beautiful young woman (Sarimah), while the merchant and his son prosper into a wealthy businessmen believing that their good fortune has been due to Bidasari's entering their lives.
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