Film of Obama's Childhood to Open

WSJ ^ | 6/30/2010 | DEAN NAPOLITANO

[mojito]

JAKARTA --- A fictionalized film based on President Barack Obama's childhood years in Indonesia is scheduled to open here on Wednesday night at a red-carpet premiere.

"Little Obama" is the creation of Damien Dematra, an Indonesian writer and artist who has worked on the project since November when he was struck with the idea of writing about the time a young Obama lived in Jakarta with his mother and stepfather in the late 1960s and early '70s. He rushed production in order to coincide with Mr. Obama's now-postponed trip to Indonesia this month.

The film is based on Mr. Dematra's novel, published in March, "Obama Anak Menteng," and focuses on the president's childhood friendships in Indonesia. The title translates as "Obama, Menteng kid," a nod to the district in Jakarta where the president resided. Mr. Dematra also wrote the screenplay and co-directed the film.

The novel and the film are fictionalized accounts of the president's time in Jakarta and are based on Mr. Dematra's interviews with people he describes as childhood friends and neighbors of Mr. Obama. "I went to his former house," he says. "I found people who knew him."

[mojito]

I read some time ago that the film will depict a very Muslim upbringing. I will be interested to see if those scenes made the final cut.

[a fool in paradise]

A fictionalized film based on President Barack Obama's childhood years in Indonesia is scheduled to open

Any film about Barack Hussein Obama's childhood is bound to be a work of fiction, even if it is authorized by Obama.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

/

[silverleaf]

it will be interesting to see who plays the cook, nanny, housekeeper, maids, gardeners, drivers and security guards who worked for the poor Soetero femily

[Impy]

[BelegStrongbow]

...to be double-billed with ‘Little Nicky’?

[a fool in paradise]

"I went to his former house," he says. "I found people who knew him."

Then the author did FAR MORE than anyone in the US "objective" media did during the 2008 election.

Barack Obama was not vetted.

[a fool in paradise]

[DrC]

“Any film about Barack Hussein Obama’s childhood is bound to be a work of fiction, even if it is authorized by Obama.

I believe you meant “especially” if it is authorized by Obama.

The reality is, all we’ve had to date are fictionalized accounts of Barry’s childhood—including those contained in 2 books allegedly penned by the president. He’s done everything in his power to seal off whatever records would allow us to find out the truth about his birth and upbringing.

[Ancient Drive]

[Dixie Yooper]

What jackass is going to get the part of the Skittle $hitting Unicorn?

[Ann Archy]

LOL!!!

[Mich Patriot]

LMFAO - humorous post of the day!!!

[jazminerose]

Will they show the site where his presidential library will be built?

[hoe_cake]

Will the film begin with a book opening to read, “Once upon a time in a land far far away...”?

[a fool in paradise]

What documents we HAVE seen (like his school papers from Indonesia) we are told are in error (his campaign team had no excuse for why they listed him enrolled as a muslim or why even in his own book he spoke of acting up in koranic studies class). They said he was a lifelong Christian (raised by an agnostic mother, 2 muslim fathers, and a unitarian grandmother).

[Dixie Yooper]

There's a picture floating somewhere in cyberspace of Obama riding it. There's even a rainbow!

[GraceG]

I wonder if they will refer to little “bama” as “Brack Obama” or as “Barry Sotoreo” ?

I’ll place my bets that they will call him “Barack Obama” in the film in an effort to rewrite history.

[a fool in paradise]

Jon Stewart.

[theDentist]

Will it depict the scene of him running the 100 yd dash is 8.3 seconds, on water, as a running start to jump over Mt. Everest?