Ajyal Film Festival 2024

Meeting with Pol Pot

Special Screening - Ajyal Film Festival 2024

Rithy Panh / Cambodia, France, Turkey, Taiwan, Qatar / 2024 / 112 min / Unknown / Unknown / In Cambodian, French / Arabic, English subtitles
Themes: Drama
Rated: Mature subject matter. May not be suitable for minors. Individuals under the age of 15 are not admitted into cinemas

Description

In the late 1970s, Democratic Kampuchea—under the rule of the Khmer Rouge—remains one of the world’s most mysterious and secretive regimes. In 1978, three French journalists are invited by the regime to conduct an exclusive interview with its leader, Pol Pot. Upon arrival, they are presented with an image of utopia: orderly cities, industrious workers, and a harmonious society. However, as their stay progresses, the cracks in this carefully constructed image begin to show. The journalists discover the devastating reality—a nation on the brink of collapse, a government teetering between paranoia and violence, and a population devastated by genocide.

Inspired by Elizabeth Becker’s personal account, 'When the War Was Over', the film blends historical fact with fiction, drawing viewers into the moral dilemmas faced by journalists in war zones. Director Rithy Panh, whose work often delves into the horrors of the Khmer Rouge era, uses the film to explore themes of truth, manipulation, and the ethical responsibilities of the media. As the journalists come face to face with the brutal realities of the regime, they are forced to confront not only the atrocities they witness—but also the power of propaganda and their role as observers in shaping history.

Director

Rithy Panh

Born in Phnom Penh in 1964, Rithy Panh is one of Cambodia’s most acclaimed filmmakers, known for his poignant portrayals of the Khmer Rouge era. His work often revisits the traumas of his homeland, aiming to preserve memory and seek justice for the victims of mass atrocities. Panh has directed numerous award-winning films, including ‘The Missing Picture’ (2013), which won the Un Certain Regard at Cannes and was nominated for an Academy Award, and ‘Irradiated’ (2020), which won the Berlinale’s Golden Bear for Best Documentary. ‘Meeting with Pol Pot’ continues his exploration of Cambodia’s tragic past.

Credits

Screenwriter

Pierre Erwan Guillaume

Producer

Catherine Dussart, Rithy Panh, Justine O., Roger Huang, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Hanaa Issa, Mehmet Zahid Sobaci, Muhammed Ziyad Varol, Mirsad Purivatra, Jovan Marjanović,Georges-Marc Benamou

Cinematographer

Aymerick Pilarski, Mesa Prum

Editor

Rithy Panh, Matthieu Laclau

Music

Marc Marder

Cast

Irène Jacob Grégoire Colin Cyril Guei Bunhok Lim Somaline Mao

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