The three-day “Muoymeun Alay” – which roughly translates as “Ten Thousand Nostalgic Bonds” – is to be held at the beginning of next month, commemorating the life and works of the late “King Father of Independence, Khmer Territorial Integrity and National Unity”, His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk.
The Preah Sorya youth group will celebrate the “Sixth Muoymeun Alay” event under the theme “Paying homage to His Majesty and commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late King Norodom Sihanouk”.
The commemoration of the late King Father on November 2-4 will be held at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Center (CKCC) at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, with free admission.
King Father Norodom Sihanouk was born on October 31, 1922, and passed away on October 15, 2012 aged 89.
Yeang Vandy, head of projects at Preah Sorya, explained the purpose and activities of the event, saying it was being held to express the highest gratitude to King Sihanouk, known as the “Father of Khmer cinema”.
“Throughout his life, he made sacrifices to serve the best interests of the Kingdom of Cambodia, achieving full national independence, peace and development in all areas, including the field of Khmer cinema, which is referred to as the seventh art of Cambodia.
“He was one of the most important drivers in promoting the sector in what was dubbed the ‘Golden Age of Film’,” Vandy said.
With the film industry born under the patronage of King Sihanouk, the monarch was delighted to send Cambodian creatives to study abroad and return to produce high quality Khmer films to entertain the people and promote the sector abroad.
“I want to promote the Khmer films that survived the Khmer Rouge regime to the public and young people so they can watch them and learn about the people’s experiences, lives, economics, culture, arts and morals at the time,” Vandy said.
The “Sixth Muoymeun Alay” is the latest event by Preah Sorya in the 12 years since it started back in 2010.
The three-day programme includes the screening of films written by the late King Father, with performances by him and Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the Queen Mother.
There will also be songs in praise of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum and newly written songs, as well as a ceremony dedicated to King Sihanouk featuring 100 monks.
His works in the field of film and music include two movies being screened at the event, La Foret Enchantee produced in 1967 and 1969’s Rose de Bokor.
Among the many songs written and composed by the late King Father include Phnom Penh, Monica and The Flower of Battambang.
The royal song Goodbye Cambodia will be sung at the end of every day of the three-day event.
Pok Borak, director of the Cinema and Cultural Diffusion Department at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, expressed his delight at news of Preah Sorya’s latest “Muoymeun Alay” event.
“This is a most noble action in the efforts to uplift and restore the works and legacy of the late King Norodom Sihanouk.
“Along with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of His Majesty, it is an opportunity to celebrate his heroism in defending the integrity of the motherland.
“It is also a chance to commemorate his demand for Cambodian independence and his leadership of the country, as well showing the rapid development of the Kingdom’s film industry at that time,” he said.
The showing of films written by the late King Father on all three days will allow them to enter the hearts of Cambodia’s younger generations and cultivate that same spirit of creativity in the Kingdom’s film industry, he added.
“I would like to thank Preah Sorya for always endeavouring to commemorate and celebrate the past glory of Khmer cinema.
“In particular, the performance of these films will show the care and dedication King Norodom Sihanouk had for the Cambodian film industry,” Borak said.
The first “Muoymeun Alay” event was held in August 2016 at the Chaktomuk Conference Hall under the chairmanship of Norodom Sirivudh, Senior Adviser to the King, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona, and Minister of the Environment Say Samal.
On July 17 this year, with its passionate documenting of Cambodia’s cultural heritage, art, film and music of the “Golden Age” before the Khmer Rouge era, Preah Sorya presented the results of 12 years of research data, which included 5,520 songs, 72 artists and 10 classical Khmer orchestras.