Angkor Awakens: A Portrait Of Cambodia

Angkor Awakens: A Portrait of Cambodia is an emotive and gripping documentary film released in 2017. Helmed by renowned director Robert H. Lieberman, the film presents an illuminating exploration of modern Cambodia, delving into its history, politics, and culture, all framed against the backdrop of the country's troubled past.

The film commences where many documentaries about Cambodia tend to focus—the ancient temples of Angkor, hence the first half of the film's title. Known for their breathtaking architecture and intricate stone-carvings, these edifices serve as silent witnesses to Cambodia's glorious past, reflecting an era of Buddhism and Hinduism flourishing side by side. The soaring towers, courtyards, and corridors of Angkor Wat and its surrounding structures subsequently serve as a starting point from which the narrative unfurls.

However, Angkor Awakens delves far beyond the realm of ancient architectural marvels. It catapults the audience into the profound depths of Cambodia's more recent history, where the vestiges of Khmer Rouge's brutal regime still looms large. If Angkor is representative of the country's distant past, 'awakens' manifests its confrontational path to a tentative presence and an uncertain future. This polarity of the past and the present imparts the film its compelling narrative firepower.

Robert Lieberman, who is not only a filmmaker but also a Physics lecturer at Cornell University, showcases a gamut of poignant testimonials, historical footage, and his narration. The participants encompass diverse strata of the Cambodian society, including prominent political figures, common citizens, survivors of the horrific genocide, and younger Cambodians who grapple with a disconcerting history they were not a part of but continue to inhabit its aftermath.

Angkor Awakens paints a vivid and relentless picture of the country's haunting past. It gives an in-depth portrayal of the Khmer Rouge era, where an estimated 2 million Cambodians perished due to starvation, forced labor, and mass executions. This brutal juncture of Cambodia's history—clearly and carefully presented here—is sadly omitted in many Western textbooks. Through this exploration, the film instigates the audience to rethink and reassess the landscape of Cambodian history and its ramifications on the present day.

But the film isn't trapped in the past. It extensively deals with present Cambodia, grappling with rapid modernization on one hand, and the aftermath of a horrific genocide on the other. The movie provides a sensitive exploration of the present-day sociopolitical landscape post the Khmer Rouge era, offering a reflection on how the past continues to shape and mould contemporary Cambodia. It examines the trauma that lingers in Cambodians' psyche, and how the younger generation negotiates between the shadows of the past and the promises of the future.

One of the film's significant highlights is its interview with Cambodia's long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose reign has been embroiled in controversies pertaining to human rights abuses and corruption allegations. The director's interview with the Prime Minister offers a rare glimpse into the man behind the political mask, presented from an unbiased perspective.

Lieberman does not shy away from raising thought-provoking questions about democracy, authoritarianism, memory, trauma, and healing. Nuanced and unbiased, the film neither glorifies nor vilifies any aspect but rather encourages the audience to think deeply about the subject matter.

To encapsulate, Angkor Awakens: A Portrait of Cambodia explores Cambodia's past and present through an atmospheric narrative told through lively visuals, intimate interviews, and expert commentary. This comprehensive portrait allows the audience to gain familiarization with and empathy for the people of Cambodia. By juxtaposing horrifying past events with the beauty and resilience of the Cambodian people, the documentary transforms from an educational view into a human narrative of persisting through adversity and the pursuit of healing and progression.

In conclusion, Angkor Awakens: A Portrait of Cambodia is a must-watch documentary for history enthusiasts, human rights advocates, and anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Cambodia's complicated history and its impact on the present and future of the nation. It offers not a mere retelling of events but a comprehensive exploration, awakening within its viewer a consciousness of a part of our world that often remains unexplored. From the first scene to the last, the film is a compelling journey of resilience, growth, and adaptation amidst adversity.