I really enjoyed Cambodian Son, it was a welcome surprise and I’m so so glad we chose to attend this event. I tried to take notes during the screening but my random scribbling’s are nearly illegible except for a few short quotes, so forgive me if this blog is a little disjointed. In the beginning of the film Kosal is portrayed in a very favorable light. Fortunately as the film progressed the more complicated aspects of his personality were exposed. I appreciated the filmmakers choice to give an honest (or close to it) depiction of Kosal. I felt angry at him for letting those kids down and I felt uncomfortable as I watched him clearly going through some sort of withdrawal. How easy it is to jump into a place of judgment! This poor guy is not responsible for being anything more or less than he is, given his lived experience. As Kosal stated in an almost desperate, pleading way, “I’m confused in life too.”
Cambodian Son examines many key issues related to US and foreign policy, treatment of immigrants, the PIC, and the positive power of the arts when it comes to healing and transformation. In the Q&A filmmaker Masahiro Sugano spoke of the importance of documentary films such as these. He stated that films can “bring back the human being out of that (any) label.” Well said sir. Often times when looking at issues of social injustice it can seem so overwhelming that we lose sight of the individual. Stories like this remind us what we are fighting for. In a very real and tangible way, lives are directly affected and just completely fucked up by this broken bullshit system. As college students we sit in classrooms and we theorize and deconstruct these issues—and we think we understand—but from our privileged positions there is still such a disconnect. I’ve thought about Kosal every day since I’ve seen this film. I think about how strained his voice sounded toward the end of his trip–his feisty rebuttle when he was questioned about how he will survive financially–his verses– and I thank him.
“You have no idea how strong you are until being strong is all you have”
-Kosal Khiev