Film
In the Life of Music
In the Life of Music is a 2018 Cambodian American feature film, directed by Caylee So and Sok Visal, that follows one song across three generations.[1] It was Cambodia's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards.[1]
Synopsis
The drama is told in three chapters, set in 1968, 1976 and 2007. Sinn Sisamouth's song "Champa Battambang" links the three generations, through love, through life under the Khmer Rouge and, in the last chapter, through a young Khmer American woman's return to Cambodia and her search for her heritage.[1]
Production and credits
Dane Arlyn Styler and Caylee So wrote the film. Neardey Trinh, Caylee So and praCh Ly produced it, with Johnny Mam as associate producer.[2] David D. Rivera Rojas was the cinematographer and Frank Martinez the editor. Gavin Keese composed the music, Yu-Ting Su designed the sound, and Sina San supervised the visual effects.[2] The cast includes Vandarith Phem, Sreynan Chea, Roza Las, Thouna Kanika, Arn Chorn-Pond, Ratanak Ben and Ellen Wong.[2]
Release and reception
The film opened the 2019 Cambodia Town Film Festival in Long Beach.[2] On the festival circuit it won Best Picture and an Award of Excellence at the Winter Film Awards, Best Narrative Feature and the narrative Audience Award at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, and a Special Jury Award for Best Director and the narrative Audience Award at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.[3] It was submitted for the Academy Awards but not nominated.[1] A limited theatrical release followed on August 14, 2020, and a streaming release on August 16.[4]