Large and ancient canopies are leveled in the heart of Cambodia, along with the livelihoods of indigenous peoples. A young, educated protagonist returns to her ancestral Bunong village to document the devastation, revealing loss and resistance. Cambodia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, with a removal of 2.85 million hectares of forest over the last two decades due to large-scale agro-industrial expansions. Multinationals remain anonymous in this film, reflecting the daily reality of the industry's lack of transparency. Through collected testimonies, the film delves into the traditional farming, harvesting and spiritual rituals of the Bunong in the forests of Cambodia that manifest as acts of resistance to this insatiable force. An observational style documentary, the film gives voice to a minority community and their generational struggle to preserve culture, language and an indigenous way of life. Large panning shots contribute to an aesthetically powerful documentary piece.

Dirs. Guillaume Suon & Anne-Laure Porée

Cambodgia // 2013 // Documentary, Color // 65' // vo bunong, st fr