Lost Loves

Yes I’m missing Frank ( he arrives tomorrow!), but Lost Love is not about that – it’s the name of the film I saw at Meta House tonight. Meta House is the German Cultural Centre and they do great stuff.  Nice to find that there is an arts scene here – not just karaoke and traditional music and dance.

“Lost Love” is a true story of the genocide.  Its made by Cambodia’s first independent filmmaker  Chimay Bora, and tells the story of his mother in law.  His wife plays her in the lead role.   Gut – wrenchingly sad, I imagine making this film must have been a cathartic process for the family.  Many Khmers who lived through the genocide just won’t discuss it or read about it, and they certainly would not watch a film about it.  It’s too painful.  The story is beautifully told from a morher’s perceptive, and her humanity is in stark contrast to the comrades that control her.  Beautiful rice paddies, lakes and mountains  are a picturesque backdropto  the horror – its rather surreal and so hard to imagine that humans can be so cruel.  Will we ever learn - its happening right now again in Libya.

The Q&A afterwards is insightful  I am surprised at how many young Khmers ask questions.  Perhaps its too recent and too raw to be part of the curriculum?  With a population maonly under 35, it’s so important that this story is told.   Ensuring history never repeats itself is this filmmakers objective.

I spend some time chatting after;  Chimay is surprised by the response of foreigners, he didn’t think there would be so much interest.  I can see huge potential for the film in festivals – he has already been invited to the German Film Festival.  I take his card and promise to introduce him to the good folk at Sydney Film Festival.  Overseas distribution has the greatest potential  - the local film scene is schlock horror teenage stuff and there is only one cinema in Phnom Penh.  Going to the movies is not an entertainment option – but everyone is up to date (amongst the middle class in Phnom Pen at least) thanks to pirated latest  releases and DVD players!.

Very productive day at work.  Half way though the project now and had an update meeting with Stav  She’s pleased with  progress.  Did another stakeholder interview too – this time with Levi Strauss Foundation.  Like GAP, they partner with CARE on programs for garment industry workers.  Their focus areas are HIV prevention and reproductive health.  Cambodia has the highest incidence eof HIV AIDS in south east Asia, but it is falling thanks mainly to the work of NGOs.  I’m really impressed with Levis approach to CSR – they have it so nicely tied in with the business they are in.  And of course the marketeer in me love that rather than the usual workplace, environment, marketplace, community pillars – they use 3Ps – Planet, Product, People.  Check out their Foundations website 

 http://www.levistrauss.com/about/foundations/levi-strauss-foundation

Finished the workday with a free yoga class on the roof of the office with my colleagues.  Om……..