In the Life of Music

Vandarith Phem
AS Chy
Sreynan Chea
AS Phally
Roza Las
AS Malis
Thouna Kanika
AS Bopha
Arn Chorn-Pond
AS Mith
Ratanak Ben
AS Little Conrad
Ellen Wong
AS Hope
Sovuthy Ker
AS Vanny
Cheat Sovannareach
AS Nang
Bopha Som
AS Ming Bo
Chandanich Kouy
AS DC
Band Members
Socheat Chea
Daniel Chea
SokPhirom Riem
Picherith Morm

 

 

 

 

The Filmmakers

Directors:
Caylee So, Visal Sok
Writers:
Dane Styler, Caylee So
Cinematography by:
David D. Rivera Rojas
Film Editing by:
Frank Martinez
Producer:
Neardey Trinh, Caylee So, praCh Ly
Executive Producer:
Bao Huynh, Asma Jafir, Kolap Vanny, Serey Vanny, Chanda Kiep, Sothearos Kiep, Luis Martinez, Brian Lee, Sophal Ear
Associate Producer:
Johnny Mam
Original Music by:
Gavin Keese
Sound Design and Re-recording Mixing by:
Yu-Ting Su
VFX Supervisor:
Sina San
Film Colorist:
Scott Bradbury

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Story

In the Life of Music is a powerful intergenerational tale that explores love, war, and a family’s relationship to: ‘Champa Battambang,’ made famous by Sinn Sisamouth (The King of Cambodian Music). Exploring three different decades, it depicts the lives of people whose world is inevitably transformed by the emergence of the Khmer Rouge Regime.

Behind the Music

Sinn Sisamouth

Sinn Sisamouth was an influential and highly prolific Cambodian singer songwriter from the 1950s to the 1970s. He is widely considered the "King of Khmer music." Sinn Sisamouth, along with Ros Serey Sothea, Pan Ron, Mao Sareth, and other Khmer artists, was part of a thriving pop music scene in Phnom Penh that combined elements of Khmer traditional music with rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Sisamouth was well known for his crooning voice, often compared to the voice of Nat King Cole with the stage p stage presence of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presly. In 1965, Sisamouth's song "Champa Battambang" was the first content played on Khmer Republic Television. Sisamouth was a leader of many musical trends, like moving traditional Khmer music and romantic ballads to Latin jazz, cha cha cha, agogo, and eventually psychedelic rock. Unfortunately, like many singers and songwriters of his time, Sinn Sisamouth disappeared during the Khmer Rouge era; the date and the circumstance of his death has never been confirmed.

In The Life of Music: Behind the Music with Gavin Keese

Screening Information

Saturday May 5th, 2018 | 5PM

@ LA Asian Pacific Film Festival

Visit Festival Site

Aratani Japan America Theatre

244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, California 90012

Purchase your ticket

boilerplate

In the Life of Music is available on the services below:

Film Reviews