Man on the Run (2023 film)
| Company type | Documentary film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Founder | Cassius Michael Kim |
Key people | Cassius Michael Kim (director, writer, executive producer) |
| Products | Documentary film |
Man on the Run is a documentary released in 2023, directed, written, and executive produced by Cassius Michael Kim. The film delves into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy, centering on former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and fugitive businessman Jho Low. Its Malaysian debut occurred on 19 October 2023.
Production
Cassius Michael Kim directed the documentary, drawing inspiration from comprehensive reports on the 1MDB affair. The narrative follows the scandal’s progression starting from the establishment of 1MDB, highlighting allegations against Jho Low regarding fund misappropriation, and covering investigative work by journalists and political figures up to the 2018 general election, culminating in Najib’s subsequent arrest and court proceedings.
The film features interviews with key individuals such as Najib Razak, Clare Rewcastle Brown, Ho Kay Tat (CEO of The Edge), Bradley Hope (author of Billion Dollar Whale), whistleblower Xavier Andre Justo, Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, former MP Tony Pua, and ex-Attorney General Tommy Thomas. Attempts to include commentary from prominent Hollywood personalities connected to the scandal, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian, were declined.
Release
In November 2023, Netflix secured global distribution rights for the documentary.
Reception
The documentary has received a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 critiques, with an average score of 6.8 out of 10.
Response by Najib
In January 2024, Najib announced intentions to pursue legal measures against director Thomas and Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown concerning the documentary’s allegedly "sub judicial and contemptuous" material, requesting its removal from Netflix. Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil indicated that the matter would be resolved through judicial processes. Director Cassius noted that no objections arose during the film’s screenings within Malaysia.