many smaller villages and country homesteads. The local crew and cast numbered up to 600 on certain days, for a few crowd scenes. Production companies The local Malaysian film production company for this feature was Southeast Asia Film Locations Services, whose Sri Lankan partner Chandran Rutnam had brought Steven Spielberg to Colombo to shoot Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. His Malaysian partner Edgar Ong was involved in the first major Hollywood feature made in Sarawak, Farewell to the King, in 1987. He later produced Sacred Planet for Disney/IMAX which was narrated by Robert Redford. And special thanks for "Nihal" in art department. Historical background and inaccuracies This film was set when the third British White Rajah; Charles Vyner Brooke, was on the throne in Sarawak. Sarawak was a British Protectorate at this time, not a British colony as stated in the film. Sarawak became a British Colony after the Second World War when the Third Rajah abdicated. The fictitious story about the Iban custom of women serving as a "sleeping dictionary" (Malay: kamus tidur) is loosely based on the Iban courtship tradition called Ngayap (English: "wing"). Release A few countries received a theatrical release of the movie, including Thailand, Indonesia, Canada, Japan and parts of Europe and the Americas. Elsewhere it went straight to DVD release, where it was awarded the first-time ever DVD Award (for direct-to-DVD films only) for Best Actor (Bob Hoskins). Hoskins was not the first choice, as both Michael Caine and then Tom Wilkinson had turned down the role. Jessica Alba came straight from the success generated by her Dark Angel TV series, created and directed by James Cameron. Another cast member and Oscar nominee was Brenda Blethyn. Emily Mortimer and Hugh Dancy went on to larger roles in more prominent movies. References External links 2003 films 2003 drama films 2000s English-language films Films set in the 1930s British historical drama films American historical drama films 2000s historical drama films Films set in Malaysia Films shot in Malaysia Films directed by Guy Jenkin 2000s American films 2000s British films