Friday, September 17, 2010

"Love for Auction": When art imitates real life's "Love for Sale" in Cambodia?

For auction in the TV show: Miss Nuon Neang Lom-orng, asking price starting from $1 million
Young Cambodian girls are routinely sold to the sex industry by their poor parents.

Cambodian censors axe 'love for auction' TV series

Thursday, September 16, 2010

AFP

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia on Thursday cancelled a TV mini-series about a beautiful woman whose suitors have to bid for her hand in marriage at auction -- with a starting price of one million dollars.

The Ministry of Information ordered the Cambodian Television Network (CTN) to stop showing the popular film series "Strange Lovers" because it was "totally opposite to good Cambodian tradition."

It "seriously affects the reputation and dignity of Cambodian women as well as drawing a lot of reaction from the audience," a statement from the ministry read.

The story revolves around a young, wealthy woman called Nuon Neang Lom-orng, who has all the qualities of the ideal modern wife: she is smart, comes from a good family, has studied abroad and knows all about art and music.

She is inundated with marriage proposals until her mother, after agonising over who should be allowed to wed her daughter, decides to auction her off at a starting price of one million dollars.

The story of "Serial Lovers" was to be told over 60 episodes, but the government intervention means viewers are left hanging after just 13 episodes.

The show's writer Poan Phuong Bopha said she regretted the decision, describing the ban as a threat to the movie makers. "This feels like we are being beaten with a stick," she said.

It is not the first time Cambodia has outlawed entertainment it considers harmful to the country's traditional values.

In 2004, the government banned a pop song that showed scenes of a Buddhist monk hugging and kissing a girl while bathing in a pond near a pagoda.

Last year, the country?s first rock opera 'Where Elephants Weep' was axed after monks said it was insulting to see actors dressed as clergy breaking into song and dance.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Art is a reflection of real society!

Or you want to hear about dream world of Preah Leakf Shinavong?

Anonymous said...

THIS IS NO ART. If there is, it is the bad side of art. It enhances nothing besides it negative side effects. It should not be allowed in the first place. I have a question: shouldn't all film productions be reviewed by the ministry of culture before allowing to be viewed by the public?

Anonymous said...

Free country shows everything. Good or bad. Cambodia is too afraid of what beyond the traditional value and Cambodia is going no where. Isn't about time that we change? What year is it?


2010 stupid.

Anonymous said...

Cambodia has excellent producers and actors and excellent stories. When this happens, it is more or less the end of the possibility of exporting the movie industry beyond Cambodia. Therefore it limits the value, the job and cash that Cambodian need so urgently. What we say about a dumb government that runs Cambodia today?

Cambodia needs to meet the international standard. This is 100 steps backward. See it for yourself.

Anonymous said...

Nice work, tradition police!

Now we have to watch Korean, Thai and Chinese soaps instead of our own for entertainment...

You guys are boring!

Anonymous said...

I support the engament of Ministry of Information to ban such film. Is the Khmer women born for selling, Is the Khmer women a object for sell?
If she wanted, I will give her $1,5 milions and please give tel. Nr., but first stop show like this.

Anonymous said...

I think that it is advantage and disadvantage. The advantage is showing real situation and also the effect that parents sell their child for marriage or other purpose. Disvantage is could promote more practice of that from the rich people who want girl.

I support the author because it is good education for the whole scoiety to think about the way of weeding is not like that and also effect so much to their child.

Anonymous said...

Bid Price= 1 millions and 1 (R 1,000,001.00)Riels....


Excellency Bandit Phd Doctor Professor General 7 stars Oknha Achar Knoy(Achar wat)

Anonymous said...

We demand "change/freedom" and yet we're afraid of it. If you allow, things will flourish and if you control, things will vanish. Look at the Comunist Cuba. Castro has controlled for so long that he has now admitted "Cuban model doesn't work" and 1/2 a million state workers have to let go.

Like 5:15am says good or bad show me what you've got. Let viewers judge, not goverment ministry.

Anonymous said...

You guys are always a freak critique of the government. What ever she does you criticize! however stupid the opposition appear to be, you all guys seem to be satisfied! In a democratic country, one can do what ever they want? the pastor in the US decide not to burn the Koran book, the media decide not to show such event on air! Did you guys, freak critiques notice all of that?

Anonymous said...

Dear All, Cambodian need to learn how to open their mind and tehir eyes fo a wide world.
movie is an art of the author. Presently, many countries government have supported very strongly to their artist to creating good movies and good entertainment for global market. This global market is very important to develop their national economy. Movie is not necessary to comply with National culture and National policy. It is about imagination and innovative of author how to attrack more audience. The government shouldn't involve with all these decision making to limite the freedom of imagination and innovation of new products. Cambodia is a poor country because of their limited mentility and closiness of their mind. Without liberation of this mind, Cambodia cannot develop further.

Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

8:56! Try to defent what we critic ah Kwack with logic! ok ! so Ah Kwach would pay you!

Do not go in general like that what we critic because ah kwack is 150% alway wrong and stupid!

If we did like you said we would make a fool out of ourselves and we are not! That why you so mad and have nothing to defend Ag Hun Xen but to put it in genaral term!

good luck with your job with ah Kwack Hun Xen stupidity!

And about Karan book! there is no pressor of any kind on press and some cristian curse Obama in the front page of INTERNATIONAL papers!

Anonymous said...

Halaluyah!

Anonymous said...

Think out side of the box or think out side of Cambodia and let the freedom rings.

KhmerIsrael said...

The world is so polluted by so call "artists." numb the mind and spirit the grosses thing an artist can come up with is become 'normal' until the world is full of violence and violence is become the freedom of expression. What this generation allows the next generation will exceed. So, will I see you guys walking in public without any cloths on as your expression of freedom of choice? This world mentality is not getting better as many are so suppose. The world will not able to tell left hand from right hand if wickedness is not curbed.

Hollywood Lie is the capital of California. Alot of propaganda comes through movies and music industries. Yeah, I'm an odd ball kind of person. I don't spent hours viewing junk on TV. I don't even own a TV. Many a mighty nations came to ruin because of uncontrol behaviors of its people and leaders. Don't know what absolute is. Truth is relevance until the wheels falls off the cart.

Anonymous said...

Thailand enjoys magnificent freedom and self expression, except that they can't criticize their monarchy.

What more can they ask for? A welfare department. Yes and look at Vietnam. Dreadful country indeed. Their people, all they want is to move south. dreadful dreadful and dreaful people. They should just drown themself in the sea instead.

Anonymous said...

Where the elephant weeps is an excellent movie, but few can see what our people had made. Isn't that stupid?

Can any Cambodian in Cambodia say the sky is the limit? None. It's same with the people of any country that having strict control of their government. They just will never know what their true potential are, except turning 65 and be dead soon.

Anonymous said...

The true is ouch!

Anonymous said...

Think of this, if people get sick from being an artist, there is a job for other people like doctor or nurse that can and will treat him or her. His and her money will pay for it:)

If you don't know how to do crap and you still get sick. Then what? At least those people can use their talents to earn money first and be able to pay for it later.

People need to have skill other than just a few job like teacher doctor and nurse.

In America one famous artist or performer for example can create as much as 200 employees and more for her show.

Here is what it looks like: five make up artists, 4 or 5 custumes designers, 4 0r 5 five bodyguards, 20 - 30 back up singers and dancers, 10-20 stage setting up and designers, 50 radios stations and more that will broad cast her show or selling her advertisements, then there is a the record procducers and his crew and store everywhere across the country will have her fantastic hit songs to sell, her photographs will appear in every newspapers company and media that will also give those people a job too and so on...you name it. This is how America creates jobs. As long as Cambodia behaves the way we are, even 30 years from now , we will still be a job starving nation. Hope everyone is waking up soon.

Anonymous said...

If I'm able to share some words, I'd say the MOI is doing the right thing. This Poan Phuong Bopha has no creative idea to produce good education movies. All her products were about rich lives and immediate money making, with no struggle, and oftentimes look down on Cambodian women.
I used to see this movie; it is disgusting and non-sense. It is not reflecting the society at all -- how can a very young girl possess those assets at that age (speaking 5 languages and having many skills)? how in reality can a big group of people afford to 'buy' that girl for millions of dollars? a direct question to you - if you own even $100 million, will you buy? and if you buy, will you treat her as your wife or a purchased product/slave? ...
All in all, Cambodian movies need more competent and skillful producers/directors. But now I can hardly see one, and this bitch is even considered the best already.
RD

Anonymous said...

Can anyone of us be famous as Lady Gaga? or Madona? Will never be reaching that scale so long as we are the way we are. Our arts and movies can only stay within Cambodia, because none outside can relate to it.

" Strange Lovers " has a potential to attract millions outside Cambodia. There are plenty of foreign people who came to our country and created this type of environment. It's pretty much base on story. Many people will want to see it, but what do we do? cutting our own throat and be done with it and what happens to people who creates it? Broke and belly up.

Anonymous said...

and those are our people. Just stay poor honey and keep on bowing your head to Moi Se Tong or Ho Chi Monk
the Communist.

Anonymous said...

9:46! sorry for your brain work drop by drop like shiting!

You can read and write English but you can not distinguse of what is reality and what is art of imagination, exaceration, entertaiment, provacation, and wisdome!

That what 's art all about give people kwnoweledge and freedome for make decission and understand other imagination not just your own!!!

Open your eyes and understand what true and what fiction!!!!!!!!

Go back to real scholl boy! not too proud of give away PhD!!

Anonymous said...

10:33 is fiction do you want they play about your mother borring story?

Anonymous said...

A movie " The lover " gave actor Tony Leoung of Hong Kong China a very famous line with an American Actress when he played wealthy Vietnamese man falling in love with a very young French woman during the time when the French control Indochina. Sure he got millions of viewers by their butts. Can a Cambodian actor or actress do that? Yes, they can, because Strange Lovers is a perfect opportunity. Think out side of the box and think business, because business creates jobs for our poor Cambodian.

Anonymous said...

Better than ah kwack family reunion!!!!

Anonymous said...

Cambodian government has always rejected the truth.

Of course, many beautiful girls of Cambodians have been sold and purchased by high officials of Cambodia.

The author just tried to reflect the truth in society.

Anonymous said...

@09:40: I believe that you are well educated but your language sounds that you are Bnag Thom! Yes, there is always ways out. If they really care about the country, find the ways that will not affect the country economy!

About Ah SAM RAINSY, what has he done the country besides doing stupid things, cursing and fleeing the country? Just like you, don curse others, be a hero yourself! will citizens vote for a leader who is always fleeing the country? NO WAY! He is selfish too. Look at his party name. SAM RAINSY party! HIS party! if you once day achieved his dream and won an election, it would be HIS Cambodia, and you are HIS slave for ever. Change the party name!

But for Samdech, some of you may have been killed during KR regime.

Wish you achieve the dream of your elusive leader.

Anonymous said...

Video link from France will not help! Takshin was beaten to the ground! Do not follow in his footsteps!

Anonymous said...

1:08PM! what the fucking hero you aretalking about! let the idea come out, fool!

I have no concern about Rainsy's problem! if he did something wrong to the country I will curse him and wish lightning strike him just like I am doing to ah Kwack Hun Xen now!

Cambodia need to be free with lawfull democracy!

Anonymous said...

1:08PM! what the fucking hero you aretalking about! let the idea come out, fool!

I have no concern about Rainsy's problem! if he did something wrong to the country I would curse him and wished lightning strike him just like I am doing to ah Kwack Hun Xen now!

Cambodia need to be free with a lawfull democracy society!

Anonymous said...

@10:16: You should use this phrase 'If Rainsy does something wrong, I will...'

Anonymous said...

if you dont like it, dont watch it.. let the other who want to watch it, watch it…. it's the freedom of expression.

The same as KI media… if you think KI is good, read it… if you don't love, don't open it… No need to shut KI down. It's the freedom of expression..

Keep that old khmer mind away… the world is going forward now...

Anonymous said...

this type of girl's thinking is so outdated for today's progress, etc. nowadays, girls and boys who are thinking like this are so lonely as there are so much fish in the water, no one is going to chase after only one fish out there, you know! wake up, people, this is not the stone ages, really! no money, no honey, ok!

Anonymous said...

this type of girl's thinking is so outdated for today's progress, etc. nowadays, girls and boys who are thinking like this are so lonely as there are so much fish in the water, no one is going to chase after only one fish out there, you know! wake up, people, this is not the stone ages, really! no money, no honey, ok!

Anonymous said...

don't quit school! girls and boys are more valuable with a college degree, ok!

Anonymous said...

@10:16: You should use this phrase 'If Rainsy does something wrong, I will...'

10:24 PM

"IF" NOT THING YET HAPPEN SO THE VERB FOLLOW SHOULD BE A PASS TEN

Anonymous said...

It is just a movie for God's sake! A lot of worse things happen in the streets of Phnom Penh and in the government of PM Hun Sen.

Preventing this movie from being shown is not going to change Cambodia or Cambodians.

Only education can change a person for the better.

The Khmers had not watched any bad movies about killing your own people before 1975 and yet the KR people killed the Cambodians, their own people without any mercy, whatsoever!

Anet Khmer

Anonymous said...

I DON'T MIND PAY HER A 1,000,000 RIEL OK!!!

Anonymous said...

Movie, story, book are art! to play with knowledge and mind!

To show one thing (for exeple Hooker) it can make the hooker as a good person, heroine, or bad person, witch, or angel. It depend what the author present it that the power owriting!

don't just see the title or the begining and make a judgement rigtaway!

Stoey cam be a mirror reflection of society or just pure imagination! greative fiction!

please give people freedome of expression!

Anonymous said...

Some people do understand the show, But most other people do not understand the meaning of expression. I believe cancel a TV show of "Strange Lovers"is the right choice.

Anonymous said...

@10:16: You should use this phrase 'If Rainsy does something wrong, I will...'

10:24 PM

"IF" NOT THING YET HAPPEN SO THE VERB FOLLOW SHOULD BE A PASS TEN

12:04 AM

Nothing wrong has happened yet? If you were true to yourself, you must have cursed him a great deal! haha....