BEIJING, June 28 (Bernama) -- Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon today attended the launching of a film on Dr Sun Yat Sen, known as the father of modern China, shot entirely in Penang.

The film, entitled Ye Ming (Road To Dawn), was launched by Vice-Minister of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television of China, Zhao Shi at the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, here.

Also present was Deputy Information Minister Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye.

The 125-minute film, costing RM8 million to produce, stars Malaysian award-winning actress Angelica Lee Sinje and Taiwanese actor Winston Chao, reprising Sun's role.

The movie will hit Malaysian cinemas in the middle of next month.

It will be shown in several other countries including Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea as well as in North America and other Southeast Asian countries.

Love, politics and violence are the three main elements in the movie, and with Penang's unique attractions combined together, separate the movie from the rest on Sun.

Directed by well-known director from Hong Kong, Derek Chiu, the movie shows a real historical background with a fictional story.

It tells the drawing up of the famous Guangzhou Uprising plan in Penang and the fund-raising for the uprising, besides recording Chinese culture, local Penang Chinese culture and the relationship between the people.

The movie also highlights Sun's political views and how he evoked in the Chinese, pride and national consciousness and action.

In 1910, Sun used Penang as a base to rally the support of overseas Chinese. A two-storey shophouse at 120, Armenian Street which was the Southeast Asia headquarters of his Tungminghui party remains until today.

Meanwhile, Koh in his speech, said the film portrayed Penang's unique local customs and showed the rich, diverse and vibrant cultural life of its people.

"This movie is a significant milestone in diplomatic relations and cultural exchanges between Malaysia and China," he said.