Buddhist monk and award-winning activist Venerable Luon Sovath is harassed, censored, and evicted by his own religious leaders when he becomes a key figure in the land-rights protests that led up to the “Cambodian Spring”.
A Cambodian Spring
Synopsis
“If we confront our fears, then we can be brave. But if we try to run away from our problems, then our problems will follow us.” - Venerable Luon Sovath, film subject, A Cambodian Spring, Winner of the Human Rights Watch Hellman-Hammett Grant
Shot over six years, A Cambodian Spring is an intimate portrait of three people caught up in the chaotic and aggressive sweep of forced evictions and land grabbing in the name of “economic progress”. Two fearless women, children in tow, take charge and lead the growing movement in their community, repeatedly facing imprisonment and violence. Buddhist monk and award-winning activist Venerable Loun Sovath is harassed, censored, and evicted by his own religious leaders when he becomes a key figure in the land-rights protests that led up to the “Cambodian Spring” beginning in 2013. The film charts the complexities, both political and personal, of fighting for what you believe, asking the audience: how much would you be willing to sacrifice? Special Jury Prize for International Feature Documentary, Hot Docs 2017
"This is an important story about inequality and corruption and how divide-and-rule tactics are used against the poor, and how strong the poor can be in the face of violence and an authoritarian government." - Brad Adams, Executive Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch
Credits
Chris Kelly
Writer, producer, cinematographer and director
