(Left to right) Label founder Sok Visal along with artists Setsochhata and VI70. Photo supplied
The French Institute of Cambodia (IFC) is arranging film screenings and a discussion forum with multi-talented artist Sok Visal, the founder and director of the hip hop music label KlapYaHandz, from October 17-22. Also a rapper and filmmaker, Visal is on a mission to create cultural nurseries in Cambodia and develop the local creative scene.
IFC communications officer Chhon Bunchhoeun briefly described the programme, saying it has selected three outstanding films by Visal for free screenings at its theatre.
“The films are Kroab Pich-Diamonds, directed by Visal and Quentin Clausin in 2013, and In the life of music, directed by Visal and Caylee So in 2018, both with English subtitles.
“We are also showing 2016’s Poppy goes to Hollywood!, directed by Visal and subtitled in French,” he said.
“There will also be a screening of Jake Wachtel’s Karmalink, which was made in 2021 and has been captioned in English. In addition, there will be a roundtable discussion with Sok Visal and Valentin Rodriguez, facilitated by Sara Rizado in French and Khmer at 5pm on October 22, the last day of the event.
“Two of KlapYaHandz’s artists will also perform – Vichet [VI70] and Sin Setha Socheata, the granddaughter of former ‘king of Cambodian music’ Sin Sisamouth. Both will bring beauty to the event through popular songs,” he added.
In the life of music describes three generations of a family, centred around love, war and their family relationships, and features a performance of Champa Battambang, a popular song sung by Sisamouth.
Kroab Pich-Diamonds tells the story of three friends who swear loyalty to each other, but are then separated by circumstances. Fifteen years after the death of one of the friends, Rith, a policeman, is chasing his dream of becoming an Elvis impersonator, while Sovan is a gangster who has robbed his boss. Their paths cross in the south of Cambodia, with tragic results.
Poppy goes to Hollywood! follows Mony, a disenfranchised youth with no direction in his life. When he runs afoul of a criminal and finds himself in debt, he seeks help from a cabaret performer and joins the club to pay off his debts. After witnessing a murder, he is forced to disguise himself as a transgender woman to escape the killer.
Karmalink is a Buddhist science fiction mystery set in Phnom Penh. A young female investigator must unravel the connection between her friend’s dreams of lost gold artefact and a peculiar scientist who is seeking to achieve enlightenment by digital means.
