Plight of the poor in present day Cambodia. <br /> <br />This film will get banned straight away, you won't be seeing it at the Cambodian International Film Festival or anywhere else in Cambodia anytime soon. The mention of 'Spring' in context of Arab Spring - even on Facebook - lands people jail terms in Cambodia. There is no word for Spring in Cambodia, just Revolution and people are very afraid of this word and for a repeat of the horrific Khmer Rouge. Those against this film will simply dismiss this as the work of "troublemaker" foreigners - who are simply exploiting Cambodia's development struggles for their own gain... filmmaking. While, it does look like a Sam Rainsy propaganda film I don't think it is. It shows real Cambodians - a huge underclass - with real grit, determination and great bravery, battling it out where Sam Rainsy is not - many now see him as an ambitious politician of convenience not of conviction. Others, especially those living (and dying) with the struggle for change and social justice in Cambodia, will take some comfort from knowing that this film is out there, telling their story - it is something that will help their struggle to be heard and find support by rallying through social media and the international community. Sadly, there's no middle ground for debate in Cambodia otherwise the debate would not be at this boiling point. It's a place where - you're either in or out, with or without, for or forsaken. <br /> <br />A Cambodian Spring, which received lottery funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland through Northern Ireland Screen, has taken nine years to complete including six years Chis spent living and filming in Cambodia. It also features an original soundtrack by electronic artist James Holden. <br /> <br />The film is an intimate and unique portrait of three people caught up in the chaotic and often violent development that is shaping modern-day Cambodia. Shot over 6 years, the film charts the growing wave of land-rights protests that led to the ‘Cambodian Spring’ and the tragic events that followed. The film is about the complexities – both political and personal, of fighting for what you believe in. <br /> <br />Click here to visit the A Cambodian Spring website: http://acambodianspring.com/ <br /> <br />SCREENINGS <br /> <br />“A Cambodian Spring” will have its world premiere in international competition at the Hot Docs film festival, Toronto, May 2017. The film has taken nine years to complete, and filmmaker Chris Kelly spent six years living and filming in Cambodia. The film features an original soundtrack by electronic artist James Holden. <br /> <br />For more general information on the film please email chris@little-ease.com and follow us on social media and sign up to our newsletter for updates on further festival screenings and film availability in your area. <br /> <br />There will be more festival and screening dates to follow. Once these dates are confirmed they will be added to this page, the blog and to the facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/acambodianspring/ <br /> <br />The film will eventually be available to screen in your area, and to buy on DVD or download to own, but until then it will only be screening at film festivals.
