Documentary about the trials and tribulations of Cambodian music
During the 60’s and early 70’s as the war in Vietnam threatened its borders, a new music scene emerged in Cambodia that took Western rock and roll and stood it on its head – creating a sound like no other. Cambodian musicians crafted this sound from the various rock music styles sweeping, America, England and France, adding the unique melodies and hypnotic rhythms of their traditional music. The beautiful singing of their renowned female vocalists became the final touch that made this mix so enticing.
But as Cambodian society – young creative musicians in particular – embraced western culture and flourished under its influence, the rest of the country was rapidly moving to war. On the left, Prince Sihanouk joined forces with the Khmer Rouge and rallied the rural population to take up arms against the government that deposed him. On the right, the Cambodian military, with American military support, waged a war that involved a massive aerial bombing campaign on the countryside. In the end, after winning the civil war, the Khmer Rouge turned their deadly focus to the culture of Cambodia. After taking over the country on April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge began wiping out all traces of modernity and Western influence. Intellectuals, artists and musicians were specifically and systematically targeted and eliminated. Thus began one of the most brutal genocides in history, killing an estimated two million people – a quarter of the Cambodian population.
"Don't Think I've Forgotten" tracks the twists and turns of Cambodian music as it morphs into rock and roll, blossoms, and is nearly destroyed along with the rest of the country. This documentary film provides a new perspective on a country usually associated with only war and genocide. The film is a celebration of the incredible music that came from Cambodia and explores how important it is to Cambodian society both past and present.
Festivals / film awards
- 2018: Tokyo International Film Festival, Japan
- 2016: Dock of the Bay Festival, Spain
- 2016: Norient Musikfilm Festival, Switzerland
- 2016: Reel Change Film Festival, USA
- 2016: Seattle Asian American Film Festival, USA
- 2016: Seeyousound International Music Film Festival, Italy
- 2015: Alta Fidelidad – Muestra Internacional de Cine Documental Musical, Colombia
- 2015: Available Light Film Festival, Canada
- 2015: Best of DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Canada
- 2015: Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, USA
- 2015: CAAMFest, USA
- 2015: CIMMfest Chicago International Movies & Music Festival, USA
- 2015: CINEDAYS Festival of European Film, Macedonia
- 2015: Clarksdale Film Festival, USA
- 2015: CPH:DOX, Denmark
- 2015: Curaçao International Film Festival Rotterdam, Curaçao
- 2015: DOK Leipzig, Germany
- 2015: dokART, Germany
- 2015: DokuFest, Kosovo
- 2015: DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Canada
- 2015: Du Son Plein les Yeux, France
- 2015: Erasmus Documentary Film Festival, Indonesia
- 2015: FAME - Festival international de films sur la musique, France
- 2015: Festival International des Cinémas d'Asie, France
- 2015: Festival international du film de La Rochelle, France
- 2015: Focus on Asia - Fukuoka International Film Festival, Japan
- 2015: Helsinki International Film Festival - Love & Anarchy, Finland
- 2015: Human Rights Arts & Film Festival, Australia
- 2015: IN-EDIT International Music Documentary Film Festival, Spain
- 2015: International Film Festival Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- 2015: Into The Great Wide Open, The Netherlands
- 2015: Jecheon International Music & Film Festival, South Korea
- 2015: Krakow Film Festival, Poland
- 2015: KyivMusicFilm, Ukraine
- 2015: London Film Festival, UK
- 2015: Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia
- 2015: Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, USA
- 2015: Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, USA
- 2015: Porto/Post/Doc, Portugal
- 2015: San Joaquin International Film Festival, USA
- 2015: Seattle International Film Festival, USA
- 2015: Sled Island Music and Arts Festival, Canada
- 2015: SoundTrack_Cologne, Germany
- 2015: Titanic International Film Festival, Hungary
- 2015: Transatlantyk Festival, Poland
- 2015: Vermont International Film Festival, USA
- 2015: Vladivostok International Film Festival "Pacific Meridian", Russia
- 2015: Wisconsin Film Festival, USA
- 2015: ZagrebDox, Croatia
- 2014: Festival du Nouveau Cinema, Canada
- 2014: Reel Asian International Film Festival, Canada