Sinn Sisamouth in movie

School of Vice: 

Not much that was good about the people or nation of Cambodia had escaped the consuming flames of Pol Pot and Angka Leu's "revolution" or its merciless, unstoppable "Wheels of History", except what was precious and of some personal pride to Sihanouk - a playboy, avid musician, movie-director, song composer, singer, statesman, memoir writer ... all rolled into one - except his movies which themselves are as diverse and eclectic as his pastime skills and personae; i.e. the movies can be described as part social commentary, part self-indulgence, part hedonism, and above all, sheer escapism. 

Not even the Kingdom's lurking threats and enveloping dark clouds of his time in power could [it would seem] lessen his enthusiasm in this general direction, and having called upon his people to join the "Khmer Rouge" ["Khmer Romdos" or Red Khmers] and overseen millions of innocents perished under their rule, Sihanouk would rise once again like the mythical Phoenix from the ashes [his favourite analogy] to direct yet more movies post-Paris Peace Accords of 1991. 

It's not entirely misplaced on the part of his critics to either praise him for the part he played as cheer leader in the general renaissance in the arts, nor their scorn over his undue devotion to what they would deem frivolous pursuits, particularly, at a time of acute political tension and climate. Yet, it was not Sihanouk alone who should be credited with this cultural revival which can be viewed as the country's brightest peak in the modern era, certainly since Leung Vek or the fall of Angkor, and at the expense of so many other outstanding talents whose work and creativity had far surpassed his in every field yet receiving little due official recognition. Just as the "Samdach PM" who runs the country single-handed today can claim every plaudit for every 'achievement' under the sky!

What is interesting about Sihanouk's pastime reputation is that it has been all too convenient for Cambodia's enemies to seize upon this dubious legacy of his as a cynical yardstick and whip with which to label and lash out at other Khmers who beside their love of the national culture and its rich expressions have little else in common with him as a person or his vices. It's not by accident that whilst Sihanouk himself was tolerated by those who had used him [hence the survival of his several movies] they had no qualms in seeking to extirpate the nation's cultural icons and identities, including these famous actors and singers seen in this movie clip below. 

One could still see this cynical and predatory process very much at work today with respect to the present Khmer King and the institution of the Monarchy. Just look at the recently minted lèse-majesté law which is designed outwardly to protect the dignity of the monarch from "insults" and the like, yet there is no denying that, in truth, those who scripted the law are among his worst usurpers and callous shadow-masters from behind the scenes...

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