'Little Obama' movie explores chapter of president's childhood

Story Created: May 25, 2010 at 9:43 AM PST

Story Updated: May 26, 2010 at 12:43 AM PST

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Do you think he was just any little boy?

Aptly misquoting a line from "Lawrence of Arabia," one of President Barack Obama's favorite films, Obama's adolescence has been turned into a movie entitled "Little Obama" about his childhood years in Indonesia.

The film, written and co-directed by Damien Dematra, documents Obama's life in Jakarta with his mother and stepfather from the age of six until he was ten years-old.

It will premiere there June 17 to coincide with Obama's planned visit to his former home.

The young Obama is played 12-year-old actor Hasan Faruq Ali, a New Mexico native, who like his inspiration, moved to Indonesia as a toddler.

"It feels great to play Obama, " the young actor said. "I was shy about it at first...But then it became easy and fun, especially acting as a very important character who left here to become president."

The movie is based on Dematra's fictionalized biography of Obama, "Obama Anak Menteng" (literally, Obama the Menteng Kid), and was filmed in the city of Bandung, about 110 miles southeast of Jakarta.

"It's not about politics, it's just the story of a boy," said Dematra. "It's about his friendships, his hobbies, just a childhood story."

-- Olu Alemoru

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