Film on Sarawak native to make China debut

Dendam Gadang actors and production crew after shooting a scene in Dendam Gadang in Miri.

MIRI: Epic Dayak adventure film Dendam Gadang will be making inroads into China soon.

The film, which showcases adventures and exotic jungle scenes is scheduled to be shown in Yunnan, China.

Film director Ray Lee told StarMetro that a deal had been inked with a Yunnan entity and the film would be shown in the mainland in October after it is shown during the upcoming Blossom Art Festival in Kuala Lumpur.

“China will lead our overseas show,” he said.

Dendam Gadang made its Sarawak debut on May 11 here.

Lee said the film showed many local beautiful sceneries that would appeal to the Chinese.

“It will benefit our local tourism by giving us a wide publicity in China,” he added.

The epic-action movie shows spectacular jungle scenes in Miri and Perak and the intriguing native community.

Starred by ordinary folk like mechanics, farmers, drivers, housewives, longhouse residents and villagers, the film is about an Iban warrior avenging the murder of his sister. Set in the 1970s, it features battles between native warriors in jungles and rivers.

The main actor, Cassidy Panggau, is a Sarawakian living in the peninsula while the film’s executive producer Misha Minut is from Limbang.

Lee was born in Selangor but has family roots in Sarawak.

During the film premier in Sarawak, state Assistant Tourism Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin commended the film production and called on local filmmakers to incorporate the noble values of Sarawakians, particularly their multiracial and multireligious solidarity into their works.

Films and documentaries had wide-reaching impact on the world stage, he said.

“They are powerful platforms that can influence the global audiences.

“The world has much to learn from Sarawakians,” Lee added.