Film
Neath's Love Story
Neath's Love Story (ប្រវត្តិស្នេហ៍នាងនាថ, Pro Wat Sneh Neang Neath) is a 2024 Cambodian romantic comedy directed by Leak Lyda and written by Diep Sovanndara.[1][2] It is the first part of a three-part series and carries the subtitle "Post Angkor Youth" (យុវវ័យក្រោយសម័យអង្គរ).[3]
Synopsis
Neath owes a large debt to her village. Dao, a womanizer who has fallen in love with her, helps her pay it off. She still does not love him back, and he tries many ways to win her.[2]
Production and credits
LD Production made the film, and Leak Lyda heads the company.[3] Its budget was about US$1 million, raised from ten investors.[3] Leak Lyda has said that the story comes from Battambang province and that the story, filming locations and costumes are all Khmer, not copied from any other country.[3]
Burmese actor Paing Takhon plays Dao, and Mélia Constantin plays Neath.[3][2] The cast also includes Tep Rindaro, Chea Sovannorea and Saray Sakana.[3] The film runs 1 hour 46 minutes.[2]
Release
The film had its gala premiere on July 28, 2024. Representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Khmer Artists Association attended, along with many well-known artists, and guests dressed in the style of the historical period they liked best.[3] The film opened in cinemas across Cambodia on August 1, 2024.[3][2] At the premiere, Leak Lyda said he planned to show it abroad as well.[3]
Neath's Love Story 2 and Neath's Love Story 3 were also released in 2024, with Mélia Constantin returning.[4][5]