KUALA LUMPUR: Actor Farid Kamil, who plays the prime minister in 'Anwar, The Untold Story', cherishes his first non-fiction role and hopes to see more local films about everyday heroes.
"It's great to have biopics about great Malaysians such as (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but it would be better if we take a cue from Hollywood and Indonesia and produce films about people on the street who stand up to bribe-takers, conmen and polluters.
"Films like this strike a chord with viewers around the world," said Farid at the launch of 'Anwar, The Untold Story' at W Hotel in Jalan Ampang here today.
Farid, 41, said he and his singer-actress wife, Diana Danielle, enjoyed watching films about ordinary people who take on society's "menaces" and triumphed, such as 'Erin Brockovich' (2000) and 'The Insider' (1999).
"Good ideas for great non-fiction films could include villagers who opposed the dumping of waste in their neighbourhood and residents living in danger of landslides who alerted the authorities quickly."
Asked about his new film, Farid said it would be screened in cinemas nationwide in the first week of May.
"It is 108 minutes long and was filmed in three months, from August to October last year, in Malaysia and Indonesia."
He said this was his first joint Malaysian-Indonesian production.
'Anwar' is produced by Bianglala Entertainment, with Zunar as executive producer, Mohammed Nolizam as producer and Viva Westi as director.
Distributed by Rakyat Media, it also stars Indonesian actress Acha Septriasa as Anwar's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and Hasnol Rahmat as fourth prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The RM10 million film, the brainchild of Zunar, depicts Anwar's struggles against corruption in the government during his days as a minister and later deputy prime minister.
It also focuses on his jailing in 1998 and his subsequent trial for abuse of power which ended in his release from prison six years later.