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.”
