Dancing Through Death:
The Monkey, Magic & Madness Of Cambodia
Janet Gardner producer/director
Sophy Theam associate producer
This is the story of Thavro Phim, who came of age under the Pol Pot regime and lost his father, brother, and grandfather to the blood thirsty Khmer Rouge. What kept him whole after the ordeal was his Buddhist faith and his dedication to Cambodian classical dance where he performs the role of Hanuman, the magical white monkey. Now a Philadelphia-area resident, Thavro travels to the Kingdom of Cambodia, a country still in turmoil, We witness his bittersweet reunion with his remaining family and teachers.
The film takes us back to the years 1975-79 when 90 percent of the dancers were executed or died of starvation or disease. Their story leads to Cambodia's Killing Fields, the refugee camps, and to Yale University's Cambodian Genocide Project which helps families access information about their loved ones. The film shows how Khmer children, whose parents survived Cambodia's darkest hour, are being taught in Cambodia and America to carry on their traditions for the sake of cultural survival.
CINE Gold Eagle, 1999
American Anthropological Association, 1999"The urge to understand oneself as a member of a culture does not decrease as others try to obliterate that culture...recommended for modern history ad culture." C. Glaviano, Bowling Green State University (MC Journal: The Journal of Academic Media Liabrarianship)
56 min. Video or DVD. Sale $295. Video rental $75.
