Plaza Theatre hosts Dust-to-Digital’s Cambodian rock doc screening
‘Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll’ chronicles the rise and fall of Cambodia’s silenced musical icons.
Much has been said about the extreme loss of life Cambodia endured under the brutal grip of the Khmer Rouge. Millions died in the killing fields and forced labor camps, but Dust-to-Digital is shining a light on one of the country’s most overlooked victims.
Prior to the fall of Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge, a vibrant rock ‘n’ roll scene flourished where elements of psychedelia, surf rock, and Western pop sensibilities fused with the country’s existing traditions. Many talented artists associated with the scene were executed and Western-styled rock ‘n’ roll was silenced with Pol Pot’s rise to power. In Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll, Director John Pirozzi pulls together photographs, lost interviews, and archival concert footage to honor the country’s persecuted rock legends.
The Plaza Theatre hosts a rare screening of the documentary on July 1. A soundtrack featuring the densely orchestrated pop of singers such as Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Serey Sothea is already available for those who want a sampling of Cambodia’s silenced rock legacy.
Wed., July 1. 7 p.m. $10. Plaza Theatre. 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave N.E. 404-873-1939.