Recently the cinema had a screening of an incredible documentary, A Cambodian Spring (2016), directed by award-winning director Chris Kelly. The film is an intimate and impactful account of the historical and current social/political climate in Cambodia - it is violent and corrupt, but it is also inspiring. 
Centred on three social warriors - local mothers Tep Vanny and Toul Srey Pov, and a Buddhist monk Luon Sovath - the documentary is an organic depiction of how they become the centre of a historic revolution. Their stories are remarkable in their own right - the mothers sacrifice their family responsibilities in order to make change for their children, and the monk jeopardises and challenges his position within his religion and those who govern it. It is striking is how A Cambodian Spring encapsulates the power of film. In order to document and expose the atrocities implemented by the development company and authorities, the role of the camera plays a vital role throughout particularly from Luon Sovath - as a monk he is unable to take part in protests, but takes it upon himself to expose the realities and violence inflicted by the police. As he says in the film, monks rely on the people in the villages and those people are starving - this was one of the reasons he decided to attend the rallies to document the scenes, and as a result was threatened with his life and many attempts were made to derobe him. [caption id=“attachment_38258” align=“aligncenter” width=“705”]
Luon Sovath[/caption] A Cambodian Spring sheds light on a village - Boeung Kak - in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh where the Prime Minister allows a developer to bulldoze the local houses inhabiting by Boeung Kak lake. The residents are forced to move out of their homes but do not go quietly. This is a story of social injustice and it was heart-wrenching to watch as bulldozers tor down houses whilst families fled from them, and see men murdered so that land-grabbing corporations could take over the land for the new development. It has to be said that arguably one of the most powerful images in A Cambodian Spring is after Tep Vanny and Toul Srey Pov, among other mothers, are arrested and sentenced to jail for two years for basically causing a stir - in their absence their children take to the streets. In an incredible moment whilst protesting for their mothers’ freedom the children march up towards armed guards outside the court and evidently the guards were not sure how to react and the audience had no clue either. It was a such a powerful moment. 
Shot over six years Chris Kelly explores the unravelling of a corrupt government, as well as the rise of a revolution. The screening itself raises awareness towards what the citizens have been facing - a Q&A was hosted by a panel which included director Chris Kelly and Luon Sovath himself - and despite the uplifting moments within the film the atrocities in Boeung Kak remain the same to this day. Another striking aspect of the film was how central the role of women are as they are constantly at the forefront of the strikes, demonstrations, and protests. “Home is the seeded power of women,” Chris explained “it’s their domain. But when men get involved on the frontline violence tends to escalate.” Speaking of how the film grew and transpired Chris Kelly said “I shied away from over simplifying the narrative - the ‘either or’ dichotomy - as life is much more ambiguous than it is portrayed in film.” 
What became apparent during the panel discussion was the reliance on A Cambodian Spring to spread the humanitarian crisis across seas as, as Chris explained, Cambodia no longer has free press which includes newspapers and radio channels - everything is governed. “A lot of journalists whose footage is used in the film are in jail. The Government has made it illegal for them to do their jobs” so international interest has become paramount. From a western perspective this is striking, and somewhat baffling, but given the persistent injustice in Cambodia, particularly in Boeung Kak, exposed by the film it is unforgivingly believable. During the film Luon Sovath said that he had lost both his brother and his nephew, and it was during the discussion after that he further explained they were killed whilst protesting. “People still try and still protest - I want change from violent war,” Sovath explained of the current climate today “The government kill democracy.” A Cambodian Spring is not an easy watch - but it wouldn’t be - as the camera observes how people’s lives within a community drastically change forever. It’s a very human story that leaves you both angry and hopeful and it may not be a film you necessarily want to watch, but it is certainly a film that you should watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t12Am6DM18