King-Father Story: Prolific

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Unofficial Translation from French by M.Preuk

Sad and Funny Story

“Prolific”
By N. Sihanouk
Chhang Sou Won, May 7, 2006

French language newspapers etc… in Phnom Penh, when they condescend to devote a few lines to my list of films, they make do by indicating that I am “prolific,” meaning to say by this that I can only scamp these films which are produced each month in “industrial quantity.”

In this respect, it matters that one knows the following:

1. My films are short, consequently, each one of them does not require much time to produce.
2. I only have the ambition to produce films in which the topic pleases me, and I have surrounded myself with a team of first class Technicians, Artists, Directors, and Stage Directors (H.E. Khieu Pannakar is a former alumni of the Paris IDHEC (French acronym for Institute of Higher Cinematographic Studies). My Stage Directors and chief Cameramen are first grade, whether they are Khmers (educated in Russia or the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) or Chinese (PRC) or Koreans (DPRK). I respect my People and my Friends (French, etc…). I cannot afford to offer them “third-rate films” as some French (journalists) or other journalists claim. If one is honest (morally, intellectually), and loves justice, one can recognize the perfect finishing of my films, and appreciate their pictures, their interior and exterior decors (always natural), the clothes, etc… As for the story [line] told, one can say that one loves it or not: one cannot discuss about tastes.
3. Cinema is for me a “serious thing.” Already, a large number of our (overseas) Compatriots from all ages – they are very “independent” – consider that I am leaving for posterity a precious film “legacy.” I know that some can detest, disdain my cinemas. The opposite (i.e. a unanimous [love]) would not have been part of human nature.

Signed: N. Sihanouk