Where Elephants Weep: Head monks offended, High-ranking gov't officials enjoyed the show

Ministry of Information does not ban “Where Elephants Weep” show in Cambodia

04 Jan 2009
By Duong Sokha
Ka-set
Unofficial translation from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
Click here to read the article in Khmer

On 04 January, the minister of Information clarified the fact that his ministry did not ban the “Where Elephants Weep” show – “which allows the world to know about Cambodia” – but the ban is only held against the TV broadcast on this show in the kingdom.

The rock opera, the music of which is composed by Cambodian composer Him Sophy, received large media coverage that went well beyond Cambodia’s border, and John Burt, its US producer, plans to present the show in a world tour. Following sold out shows in Phnom Penh a few weeks ago, the show is still being discussed … by monks.

In fact, Cambodia’s head monks are offended by some scenes in the show which was broadcasted by a Cambodian TV channel on 25 December. These head monks said that the saffron robe is insulted and they let this issue be known to the ministry involved. In the complaints sent to the ministry of Cult, these monks demanded that these shows be banned, and they succeeded in canceling the second broadcast of “Where Elephants Weep” on CTN on 01 January.

The head monks blame the young hero of the show for his lack of rigor because he abandoned the monkhood robe as quick as he is ready to pick it up again, following a long love story with a pop singer, the whole scene was performed around some dance steps and singing.

Khieu Kanharith defended this work [that several Cambodian government officials went to watch without ever criticizing this social satire], explaining that the show watchers are better informed than Cambodian spectators are about the rock opera genre which is “different from the ayay” (a form of Khmer traditional theater).

“What these head monks raised was not wrong ... But this does not justify asking apologies from the producer and artists. The latter were creators first of all!” Khieu Kanharith then indicated that the ministry of Culture will closely examine the show and it will identify elements that need to be corrected. He then went on to congratulate the rock opera producer who chose to “work with Khmer and foreign artists.”

Cambodian monks force nation's first rock opera off air [-Will the Tum Teav story be banned next?]

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Cambodian monks have persuaded authorities to ban the country's first rock opera, which features actors dressed as clergy who break into song and dance, saying it insults Buddhism.

In a letter sent to the ministry of cults and religion, as well as to the media, the Supreme Sangha Council of Buddhist Monks also demanded an apology from the show's director, writer and actors.

"Where Elephants Weep", a modern take on a traditional Cambodian love story that merges pop and rock music with more traditional and historical Cambodian tunes, played in Phnom Penh from late November through early December.

It tells the story a Cambodian-American man who returns after the demise of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime to reconnect with his roots. While he is a monk, he falls into a doomed love affair with a pop singer.

The last straw came when the show was aired by a local television station last week, prompting the monks' council to write to complain.

Cambodia is predominantly Buddhist and monks are expected to be austere and eschew worldly pleasures such as entertainment.

"Some scenes in the story insult Buddhism," the letter said in asking the ministry to "ban the performance and airing of the opera."

The council objected to many scenes, including one in which the actor "left the monkhood and slept with a woman, but a moment later (he) put the robe back on to be a monk again..." said the letter, dated December 30.

The show "oppresses Cambodian Buddhist monks, causes more than 50,000 monks to loss their honour, value and to express frustration," it added.

Religions minister Min Khin duly stepped in and the television station was ordered not to go ahead with a second broadcast planned for New Year's Day.

The show had a successful US preview last year and, after its run ends in Cambodia, it is expected to tour South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan before returning to the United States.

Organisers behind the opera were not immediately available for comment.