Film
Fathers (film)
Fathers is a 2020 Cambodian drama by Huy Yaleng, based on the true story of a Phnom Penh cyclo driver struggling with fatherhood.[1] It was Cambodia's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.[2][3]
Synopsis
The Khmer title is ដើម្បីកូន (Daeumbei Kon), meaning "For Children."[2][4] Kun, played by Huy Yaleng, has lost a leg and drives a cyclo-trisaw to provide for two children whose mother left them at a pagoda corner.[5] The film shows his quiet devotion and sacrifice for the children.[6] It also touches on poverty and social division, and on the cyclo itself, a fading but iconic way to travel in Cambodia.[6][3]
Production and credits
Huy Yaleng had mostly made horror films before Fathers, his first drama.[3] He based the story on a cyclo driver near Ounalom Pagoda and researched the lives of cyclo drivers in Phnom Penh.[6][3] To play the role, he spent about two weeks tanning his skin and learned to drive a cyclo.[6] Chatwa Plus and Huy Yaleng wrote the script.[5] Huy Yaleng produced the film for Kakthachey Film Production; IMDb lists Meato Chak Films as the production company.[3][5] The cast includes Sonyta Mean as Sotheary, Kong Sophy as Hong, Tep Sreypov as Sophy, Chy Chhenhlin as Srey Sor, Sok Polin as Sao and Mery Sophayuk as Pring.[5] The film is in Khmer and runs 110 minutes.[5]
Release and reception
Fathers opened in Cambodia on January 30, 2020.[5] It was close to becoming a major hit when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.[6] In late 2020, the Cambodia Oscar Selection Committee chose it over Young Love after a tied vote and a third round of discussion.[3] Committee member Sum Sithen said the film showed the hard lives of poor Cambodians, though he found weaknesses in some performances and the music.[3] Huy Yaleng called the selection a major milestone in his career.[3] The film was not nominated.[2]
The film had its U.S. premiere as an official selection of the 2021 Cambodia Town Film Festival, at the Art Theatre Long Beach on September 26, 2021.[1] That screening was in Khmer with English subtitles.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cambodia Town Film Festival, CTFF 2021 Official Selection: FATHERS (U.S. Premiere) (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Fathers (film) - Wikipedia (2020-12-28)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Khmer Post Asia, Cambodian Film "Fathers" Submitted for Oscar (December 29, 2020)
- ↑ Underplayed Gems, Fathers (2020)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 IMDb, Fathers (2020)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Japan Foundation, Phnom Penh Liaison Office, Huy Yaleng (November 27, 2020)