Another documentary that give a deep analysis on genocide is on the way to show in public for its premiere in Cambodia. It was set to project on the 21 July 2010 at Meta house.
This time is Nuon Chea confession, the brother number two of Khmer Rouge regime. Did he tell the truth? I am very curious about what he said and confessed in the film.
I have been followed the works of Rithy Panh, a Franco-Khmer filmmaker that have done 3 or 4 documentaries on Khmer Rouge. He also want to understand why this killing happened. I hated him in the first place. why he show such a shame history to the world.
Time passed, I still buy “S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine”, Rithy Panh’s last documentary and it is the most powerful film I admired. In his film, Rithy Panh also did the interview direct with the people that used to work in S-21. I don’t know how long he spent with them to make them trust him and allow him to film the interviews.
I admired his work and finally I understand it’s important to do the film so that the new generation can understand what happened. It is not ashamed. It’s a history. We need to accept our past in order to build the future. There’s no past, there’s no present and there’s no future.
THET SAMBATH spent 5 years of his weekend to visit Nuon Chea in Pailin to gain his true to tell him the true. His willing to know the truth with an advantage of his country character help him to convince Nuon Chea to answer his questions.
That’s is what I know about “Enemies Of The People”, a new documentary film directed by co-director: ROB LEMKIN & THET SAMBATH. Samath is a journalist works for The Phnom Penh Post, Rob is the founder and director of Old Street Films in UK.
The film won many Awards from different film festivals, you can have a look at the trailer. Please be advised some scenes might be disturbing.
Lydia Khai says
Soursdey Boo. I think it’s very refreshing to read your commentaries about the Khmer Rouge history. I taught English in Cambodia for 6 months, and I thought it sad that not many seemed to know much about it. I think perhaps, like you, they were ashamed of their country’s history and did not wish to talk about it. I would have to agree with you though, that in order to understand onesself, you must look at your past and try to learn what you can from it. I think though, that for many they do not understand, do not want to understand, but someday will understand. It takes time, patience, and the efforts of people like you. I would also like to see more of it taught in America as well. I only learned about it outside of school. Anyway, thanks again for your writings. Lydia