Obama movie opens in Indonesia
By Patrick Frater
Thu, 01 July 2010, 15:42 PM (HKT)
Obama The Menteng Kid (Obama Anak Menteng), a biographical film about the early life of Barack Obama in Indonesia opened in Jakarta today.
The film, directed by Damian Dematra is based on Dematra's book of the same title which tells a fictionalised version of the young Obama's four years in Indonesia between 1967 and 1971. Its release was intended to coincide with a visit to the country by the US President, which has now been cancelled two times.
The film skips some of the more political issues which the book tackles, including his learning of the Koran. It was produced and distributed by veteran producer Raam Punjabi, who says that it deliberately chose a non-political, and non-religious stance.
The young Obama is played by 14 year old actor Hasan Farooq Ali, who like Obama is American but has parents from Africa.
Recent News Stories
- Sexploitation receives extra dimension
- I AM to debut in Hong Kong
- Speaking a new language: Chinglish
- Buena Vista traps Best Men
- Edgerton thriller Felony finds its Solution
- Woo boards Beast
- Finecut blesses The Profane
- Asia to have subtle market influence
- Weinstein runs off with Sapphires
- Screen Aus tops up development funding
- Ausfilm appoints McMullan as chair
- Arclight has feeling of Predestination
- News Corp buys 20% of Bona Film
- Bong's Snow Piercer underway
- STAR Chinese Movies gets makeover
- China Film wooed by Girl
- Goddess rises to Cannes marketing occasion
- Odin's get a bite on Crocodile
- Leigh, Krawitz grab ADG Awards
- Lee sees RED
- Weerasethakul to head Locarno jury
- Odin's Eye spies US VoD deal
- Fortissimo takes Una Noche
- Bona doubles up in 3-D
- Woodsman and Light dazzle Nippon Connection
- Asian buyers rush for Cannes titles
- CJ reassures over problem films
- Fox grabs Avengers for Asia
- Driver steers Cannes duo to world sales
- Sydney unveils competition
- Fortissimo aims to make a Killing
- Milstein appointed head of Seven Stars
- Flying Swords to get US IMAX release
- Jannat 2 has big opening
- Evil Dead visits New Zealand
- Hunger Games given China green light
- Fortissimo charmed by Miss Lovely
- Singapore proposes 100% grants
- Loehr confirmed as Legendary East CEO
- Chong stands down as Media Asia CEO