A mashup of traditional sounds and Western pop,
Cambodia had a fertile music scene from the mid 50’s to the mid 70’s, supported
by a monarchy devoted to the arts. When capitol city Phnom Penh fell to the
Khmer Rouge in 1975, however, that all changed. Communist dictator Pol Pot
brutally stamped out self-expression, and many popular musicians were murdered
in the Cambodian genocide.
Director
John Pirozzi’s crucial documentary, “Don’t Think I’ve
Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll,” introduces us to significant artists
like crooner Sinn Sisamouth and rocker Yol Aularong with priceless
archival footage and bittersweet interviews revealing a surprisingly rich
tapestry of talent.
Pirozzi — he’s slated to participate in a post-screening
Skype discussion on May 26 at The Little — also provides us with the necessary historical
context to understand the timeline of events, particularly in relation to the
unstoppable encroachment of the Vietnam War. But the film is not so much an
elegy as it is a celebration: a testament to human resilience and the vital
music that one interviewee deems “the soul of a nation.”
This article appears in May 13-19, 2015.
