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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 10, 2009 18:21:21 GMT
In Hwinpp's wonderful illustrated story of his trip to the northern part of Cambodia, one of the replies is about a 2004 documentary based on interviews with both perpetrators of Khmer Rouge atrocities and survivors of that era. Here is the trailer. (nothing horrible to see in it) And in searching for the film, I came across this blog from 2006, which reviews some other documentaries and feature films about Cambodia along with related subjects. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2009 18:25:09 GMT
Did you know that the former King Sihanouk directed several movies?
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 10, 2009 22:41:54 GMT
No, I didn't! One of this movies has a title which instantly became one of my favorite movie titles, even though I've not seen the film: Peasants in Distress. Probably wouldn't be as funny in Khmer.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2009 22:57:35 GMT
Another one of his films, An Ambition Reduced to Ashes, sounds like the story of my life.
Oh, and his son, King Sihamoni. That's an interesting story as well. Although perhaps it is not surprising that someone whose name is half father/half mother (Sihanouk + Monique) was running a ballet school in Paris when he took over the throne and is "a lifelong bachelor."
Actually, I find it admirable that he was chosen to take over, because other choices were possible.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 10, 2009 23:16:38 GMT
He is interesting! His cosmopolitan background might make him fit for public service in any country.
I am so grateful to Hwinpp & to Kerouac for spotlighting a country about which I know very little aside from the horrors of the 70s.
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Post by bazfaz on Mar 11, 2009 11:24:16 GMT
On our first trip to Cambodia we stayed in the lttle town of Kampot. One day, with half a dozen other westerners, we went up to Bokor which had been a French hill station to provide cooler weather. Half way up the driver stopped and made us all get out and stand at th side of the road, looking down over a cliff.
He said, 'This is where the Khmer Rouge pushed my parents to their death.'
No one knew what to say. We got back in the truck and went on.
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Post by hwinpp on Mar 12, 2009 8:09:31 GMT
Bokor's closed now, BF. For the time being. Unfortunately. The road up is being 'constructed', part of turning it into a resort. There'll also be a cable car.
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Post by bazfaz on Mar 12, 2009 8:43:59 GMT
The French had it as a resort so it is (in a sense) returning to what it was. It was weird wandering round the old buildings, a ballroom knocked to pieces, an old church with scars of bullets.
A new road up would not come amiss. But a cable car...?
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 12, 2009 9:16:40 GMT
God Baz, I can't imagine what you all must have been feeling. And that driver -- forced to travel repeatedly past the site of his parents' murders.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2009 13:03:50 GMT
In the movie INDOCHINE,is this the same location we're talking about?
The cinematography was breathtaking.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2009 13:05:39 GMT
I don't think that any of Indochine took place in Cambodia.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2009 13:09:26 GMT
Bokor Hotel & Casino  Casino entrance  interior  the past  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2009 13:17:14 GMT
Again,shades of Katrina but on a less grand scale...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2009 13:28:14 GMT
Although when everything is renovated, I'm sure that it will be splendid, I am still dismayed at the idea that they will be making hotel rooms for at least $200 a night in a place where people don't earn $200 a year.
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Post by bazfaz on Mar 12, 2009 15:41:41 GMT
We sat on the steps of that ruined casino to eat our picnic. Then our guide took us to a little knocked about church only about 400 metres away. The Khmer Rouge were in the church, the royalists in the casino, shooting at each other.
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Post by hwinpp on Mar 17, 2009 5:05:12 GMT
I'm not sure the casino will be left standing, it'd be a pity if they pulled it down.
The targeted guests are Asian tourgroups. There'll be a new casino and a fun fair of course.
The cable car was in the original plan, don't know whether they've started on its construction yet.
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Post by bazfaz on Mar 17, 2009 21:53:07 GMT
Bokor is just one of a long list of places that I am glad to have seen before they got changed.
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Post by hwinpp on Mar 20, 2009 9:20:30 GMT
I missed it...  |
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