Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll
Dir: John Pirozzi
105 Minutes
Director John Pirozzi composes an enlightening and
passionate documentary about the musical explosion in Cambodia during the 50’s,
60’s, and 70’s. Ultimately the beautiful and artistic musical art made from
these forgotten musicians, at least from a Western perspective, encounters a
tragic end. Though the history of this time is brought back to stirring life
through the eyes and ears of the people that heard and saw these musicians in
Cambodia during these uplifting and tumultuous times. Assisted by archival
footage and the striking music made during the time, “Don’t Think I’ve
Forgotten” is an exceptional documentary of rediscovered music and the
influential musicians that created it.
Music is a universal language, a combination of rhythms and
melodies that speak a common language of emotion. The music throughout
Pirozzi’s soundtrack is a reflection of the changing Cambodian culture, one
that found Western influences combined with the traditional aspects of song and
lyric that distinguished Cambodian popular music. There were the ballads of
crooners and divas, the go-go style, girl groups, and numerous rock n’ roll forms;
music in Cambodia was a product of the world’s popular music while also being
distinctively individual. Hearing the music produced by these artists, Sinn Sisamouth with his jazz
styled crooning and Ros Serey Sothea the soulful songstress, it wouldn’t be
surprising today to see artist like these crossover with their own hit songs.
Unfortunately many of these talented careers would never come to full fruition
because of the aggressive appropriation of power from Prince Sihanouk, a
supporter of the arts who played a crucial role in Cambodia’s independence. The
Khmer Rogue in 1975 would further harm Cambodia’s thriving culture by
decimating the population of thinkers, artists, and supporters of Western
methods.
“When two big elephants fight, who suffers? It’s the grass
that takes the hit”. This comment is telling of the changing political and
social atmosphere, the shifting and hostile takeover of leadership, and the
effect of war at the borders of Cambodia. Massive powers pushing and colliding
into one another, with the neutral country of Cambodia trying to avoid the
conflict in the world but also the peaceful people cultivating a culture of
change in the region. These relatively small forces are matched against larger
more powerful forces, and the damage to Cambodia was unthinkable.
“Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten” is a film about music and
musicians during a period of history in Cambodia, but it’s also much more. At
the core is a film that displays the power of music, the power that provides
hope and motivates change. It evoked an emotion for these Cambodian artists to
explore creativity and express the feelings, positive or negative, happy or
sad, political or personal, that they wanted to share with the world. What
happens to Cambodia is not a mystery, and while history has proven brutal and
unforgiving for the people and musicians on display in this film their story and music should not remain a mystery.
Monte’s Rating
4.00 out of 5.00
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