The idea of the film first emerged when Allyn asked his close friend Hashim about two old portraits of youths in uniform on his wall. Hashim told Allyn they were pictures of his two uncles, First Lt. R.M. Subianto Djojohadikusumo and Cadet R.M. Sujono Djojohadikusumo, who had died in the battle of Lengkong in 1946. His uncles were the brothers of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, one of the founding fathers of Indonesia and the economic guru who helped win recognition of Indonesia's independence by the United Nations. "I thought it would make a great Hollywood movie!" said Allyn. Hashim and Allyn agreed that the story of brave young Indonesians willing to sacrifice their lives for the independence of Indonesia needed to be retold to the younger generation of Indonesia – and to the world outside, where few people know much about Indonesia's long and bloody struggle for independence.