TUM TEAV
Managed to catch ‘Tum Teav’, the ‘Cambodian Romeo and Juliet’ at Kirrirom Cinema. Theatres are making a comeback in Phnom Penh which is great. For a low budget local production, this one got it just right. Lots of karaoke stars, a fairly faithful adaptation of the story (up to the end, at least), and no cheesy special effects. For 6000 riel that’s a good deal.
What’s interesting is that Tum Teav challenges both traditional ideas about marriage and has an authority figure as a bad guy. Maybe traditional culture in Cambodia isn’t as ‘traditional’ as it seems.
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This just in – there’s another film of ‘Tum Teav’ that just finished showing on Monivong! Any info on that would be appreciated.
