A River Changes Course (2013)
3.9 of 5 from 45 ratings
1h 23min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
"We've worked so hard on this land”, says Sav Samourn. “And now they've come to destroy it all. Sooner or later it will all be gone”. 'A River Changes Course' intimately captures the stories of three families living in Cambodia as they strive to maintain their traditional ways of life amid rapid development and environmental degradation. Deep in the jungle, Sav Samourn struggles as large companies encroach and “progress” claims the life-giving forests. She discovers there’s little room for wild animals, ghosts - and the home she has always known. In a fishing hamlet, Sari Math must quit school to help support his family. But as the fish catch dwindles, Sari and his family find their livelihood threatened. In a village, Khieu Mok must leave to seek work in a Phnom Penh factory to help pay her family’s debts. But city life proves no better, and Khieu struggles between her need to send money home and her duty to be with her loved ones. From Cambodia’s forests to its rivers, from its idyllic rice fields to the capital’s pulsing heart, forces of radical change are transforming the landscape of the country - and the dreams of its people. The film’s original Khmer title, Kbang Tik Tonle, is a term that describes the traditional practice of dipping one’s hands into the water and drinking the water with both hands. This single act connects the Cambodian people to the water, to nature, and ultimately to life. - Directors:
- Kalyanee Mam
- Others:
- Kalyanee Mam
- Genres:
- Documentary, Drama, Special Interest
- Countries:
- Cambodia
- Awards:
2013 Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Jury Prize Documentary