John Malkovich: 'Siberian Education is a look at the underworld'

John Malkovich has suggested that his new movie Siberian Education will teach audiences about the underworld.

Malkovich plays an exiled criminal in the final years of the Soviet Union in Siberian Education, which is based on Nicolai Linin's autobiography.

The actor said he hopes that the film will be a learning experience for American audiences.

"It is an interesting story about the way of life that most of the audience would not know about," The AP quotes him as saying.

"Things are so much global and Americanised. It's interesting to think of that kind of (underworld) culture that the film addresses is kind of becoming extinct… I found this experience delightful."

Malkovich went on to say that he has enjoyed collaborating with Siberian Education director Gabriele Salvatores, who won a 'Best Foreign Language Film' Oscar for his 1991 film Mediterraneo.

"It is certain that Gabriele has terrific balance between knowing what he wants and being willing to be surprised," Malkovich said. "That's not the easiest balance to have, but I think better directors have that."

He continued: "I think directing is a terrible job. It's an awful lot of pressure, and I think the part the actor should bring is to give your best performance, your best opinion, but to bring something to work instead of making the director always tell you what to do."

Siberian Education is expected to be released in 2012.

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