Defense Ministry Denies Thailand’s Unfounded Allegations Over Landmine Incident | Cambodian Government Responds to Thailand’s Diplomatic Actions Amid Border Tensions | PM: Cambodian Armed Forces Courageously Defending Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity | Cambodian Condemns Thailand's Aggressive Military Operations in Border Tension Areas | Cambodia Condemns Thai Military Aggression, Urges Immediate Withdrawal | Cambodian Ministry of National Defense Releases Timeline of Border Clashes on July 24, 2025 | Thailand Launches Airstrikes on Cambodian Military Targets, Prompting Regional Anxiety | Cambodian Army Asserts Right to Self-Defence Following Thai Incursion | Hun Sen Commands Military Operations Alongside Prime Minister Hun Manet, Denies Reports of Fleeing, Says Spokesperson | Cambodian Military Claims Control of Ta Krabey, Ta Moan Thom Temples Amid Border Clashes | PM Hun Manet Urges Calm and Respect Amid Ongoing Border Clashes with Thailand | Government Spokesperson: Thailand Using Landmine Allegations as Pretext for Invasion | Border Conflict Escalates: Cambodian and Thai Forces Continue Clashes as of 6 PM | Cambodia Condemns Thai Military for Violating World Heritage Site, Calls for Immediate Action | Cambodia Condemns Thai Military Attacks and Cluster Bombing on Border Areas, Vows Firm Response | BREAKING: Heavy Thai Assault on Ta Moan Thom Temple as Cambodian Forces Resist Fiercely | US Calls for Immediate End to Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict | TOP NEWS: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, As ASEAN Chair, Urges Cambodia and Thailand to Consider Ceasefire | UN Urges Restraint as Tensions Mount at Thailand-Cambodia Border | Thailand Seeks Diplomatic Solutions Amid Escalating Border Clashes with Cambodia; Cambodia Condemns Airstrikes | Nation Unites in Humanitarian Effort: Blood Donation Drive Supports Emergency Preparedness Amid Border Tensions | Thailand Rejects International Mediation in Ongoing Cambodia Border Conflict | Cambodia Reports Intensified Thai Attacks and Condemns Use of Cluster Munitions in Urgent Third Briefing of the Day | Cambodia Responds Firmly as Day Two of Border Skirmishes Unfold | BREAKING NEWS: Prime Minister Hun Manet Clarifies Cambodia’s Position on Ceasefire Proposal Amid Border Tensions | BREAKING NEWS: Cambodia Denounces Thailand’s Military Actions as Violations of Sovereignty and International Law | UN Urges Restraint as Thailand-Cambodia Clashes Displace Thousands; Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting |
Defense Ministry Denies Thailand’s Unfounded Allegations Over Landmine Incident | Cambodian Government Responds to Thailand’s Diplomatic Actions Amid Border Tensions | PM: Cambodian Armed Forces Courageously Defending Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity | Cambodian Condemns Thailand's Aggressive Military Operations in Border Tension Areas | Cambodia Condemns Thai Military Aggression, Urges Immediate Withdrawal | Cambodian Ministry of National Defense Releases Timeline of Border Clashes on July 24, 2025 | Thailand Launches Airstrikes on Cambodian Military Targets, Prompting Regional Anxiety | Cambodian Army Asserts Right to Self-Defence Following Thai Incursion | Hun Sen Commands Military Operations Alongside Prime Minister Hun Manet, Denies Reports of Fleeing, Says Spokesperson | Cambodian Military Claims Control of Ta Krabey, Ta Moan Thom Temples Amid Border Clashes | PM Hun Manet Urges Calm and Respect Amid Ongoing Border Clashes with Thailand | Government Spokesperson: Thailand Using Landmine Allegations as Pretext for Invasion | Border Conflict Escalates: Cambodian and Thai Forces Continue Clashes as of 6 PM | Cambodia Condemns Thai Military for Violating World Heritage Site, Calls for Immediate Action | Cambodia Condemns Thai Military Attacks and Cluster Bombing on Border Areas, Vows Firm Response | BREAKING: Heavy Thai Assault on Ta Moan Thom Temple as Cambodian Forces Resist Fiercely | US Calls for Immediate End to Cambodia-Thailand Border Conflict | TOP NEWS: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, As ASEAN Chair, Urges Cambodia and Thailand to Consider Ceasefire | UN Urges Restraint as Tensions Mount at Thailand-Cambodia Border | Thailand Seeks Diplomatic Solutions Amid Escalating Border Clashes with Cambodia; Cambodia Condemns Airstrikes | Nation Unites in Humanitarian Effort: Blood Donation Drive Supports Emergency Preparedness Amid Border Tensions | Thailand Rejects International Mediation in Ongoing Cambodia Border Conflict | Cambodia Reports Intensified Thai Attacks and Condemns Use of Cluster Munitions in Urgent Third Briefing of the Day | Cambodia Responds Firmly as Day Two of Border Skirmishes Unfold | BREAKING NEWS: Prime Minister Hun Manet Clarifies Cambodia’s Position on Ceasefire Proposal Amid Border Tensions | BREAKING NEWS: Cambodia Denounces Thailand’s Military Actions as Violations of Sovereignty and International Law | UN Urges Restraint as Thailand-Cambodia Clashes Displace Thousands; Security Council Holds Emergency Meeting |

‘The Perfect Motion’ Director Encourages Cambodian Youth to Tell Their Stories

PHNOM PENH: The Perfect Motion, or “Tep Hattha” in Khmer, is the first feature documentary film to be released nation-wide in Cambodia. The movie follows two main stories: that of the history of the Royal Ballet and the late Princess Buppha Devi’s final production as Director of the Royal Ballet.

The Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) premiered the film in March, when it got a standing ovation from King Norodom Sihamoni. Released in theaters on April 1, more than 11,000 people came to see and it was screened at this year’s film festival along with two Q&A sessions.

EAC News had a chance to speak with Xavier de Lauzanne, the film’s director, who spoke about the importance of cinema and film festivals in encouraging a sense of identity and creativity in Cambodia’s youth. “It’s [mostly] young people who have come to see ‘The Perfect Motion’,” he said, “The film is talking about the question of identity and it’s [about] how art can help to build the identity of a nation.”

Lauzanne aimed to make a film with a universal message that could reach beyond a strictly Cambodian audience. He wanted to show the world the power of art amidst war and crisis. “It’s a very interesting example to see that art is important to build a nation after a crisis,” he said. With that in mind, he wanted to create something that would give Cambodians pride in their culture and history. “I wanted the Khmer audience [to] be proud after watching this movie. It was very important for me.”

He said it was not difficult to procure archival footage for the film, as he was honored to receive authorization from the Queen, who encourages preserving culture for the next generation. “It’s very important for the young generation in Cambodia to discover their own culture, their own heritage,” said Lauzanne, “This film helps [do] this through the story of the Royal Ballet that not many people know and so they’re really discovering something about the Khmer heritage.”

He hopes that events like CIFF and the modern ease of creating film will encourage the next generation of Cambodian. “You know that you have many stories to tell. To tell to the world. To tell to the nation.” The director pointed out the ease of creating with modern technology and had simple but powerful advice for young creatives. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be shy,” he said, “You have to dare to do. You see now we can [make] movies using only an iPhone and a computer. So, it’s very easy now to start to do something. So my advice is ‘Don’t be afraid to start.’…Even if it’s not good at the beginning, you have to try…It’s the best way to learn.”



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