"There were no dragon dances or public celebrations, " says Suherman, a caretaker at Jakarta's Vihara Dharma Bhakti temple.

NPR: Neighbors Feel China's Expanding Power

But 10 years after the fall of Suharto, dragon dances are no longer forbidden and the Chinese New Year is an official holiday.

NPR: Neighbors Feel China's Expanding Power

Stewart also wrote the movie and is producing it with Scott Rudin, best known for films like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and No Country for Old Men.

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