Who Killed Chea Vichea?

Frederick Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:20:00 +0000

Who Killed Chea Vichea? will screen at the Frederick Film Festival in Maryland on Saturday, March 27 at 2:30pm.

This is your first chance to see Who Killed Chea Vichea? with final music and narration, and in full color-corrected glory! And director Bradley Cox will be at the screening to participate in a discussion after the film.

The screening is at 2:30pm at the Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W Patrick St, in downtown Frederick (map).

Buy tickets here!

Sixth anniversary, and Big Sky screening in Montana

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:29:00 +0000

On this, the sixth anniversary of the murder of Chea Vichea, we are happy to announce that the one-hour version of Who Killed Chea Vichea? is in the final stages of post-production.

The next screening will be on February 14th, in Missoula, Montana, at the widely respected Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. If you've seen one of our preview screenings, please visit the film's page on the festival site and add your review. And of course if you're anywhere near Missoula, we hope you'll attend.

In Phnom Penh today, hundreds marched to commemorate Vichea and to demand justice in the case. The union that Vichea led threatened a week-long nationwide strike unless the government arrests the actual killers.

Here's a video report from RFA (in Khmer):

Sam Oeun: Don't arrest the innocent

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:20:00 +0000

Sok Sam Oeun, one of the two men awaiting retrial in the assassination of Chea Vichea, urged the authorities not to arrest any other innocent people for the crime. From VOA:

“In prison it’s not easy,” Sok Samoeun, who is awaiting an Appeals Court hearing on murder charges against him, said on Hello VOA. “It’s something that has more suffering than I can say.”

Full story

Screenings in Canada at CLiFF

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:12:00 +0000

The fine cut of Who Killed Chea Vichea? will screen this Saturday, Nov. 28 in Toronto and Victoria BC as part of CLiFF, the Canadian Labor International Film Festival.

If you live in or near either city, this is your chance to preview the near-final version of the film!

In Toronto, the program starts at 3:30 at the Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St West. (details)

In Victoria, the program starts at 2pm at Camas Books, 2590 Quadra St. (details)

Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested!

Adhoc: Inconvenient Films

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:24:00 +0000

Who Killed Chea Vichea? will be screening tomorrow night in Vilnius, Lithuania as part of the "Adhoc: Inconvenient Films" Human Rights Film Festival. Also Nov 5 in Klaipeda and Nov 8 in Kaunas. Please pass the word to your Lithuanian friends!

Vilnius: Pasaka, 09.10.27 at 18.20
Kaunas: VMU Club "Sesija," 09.11.08 at 16.00
Klaipeda: LCC, 09.11.05 at 19.10

More info: www.nepatoguskinas.lt/index.php?cid=30781

Vichea's brother faces lawsuit

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Chea Mony has always been clear that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun did not kill his brother, Vichea. He even rejected a compensation payment that the court ordered them to pay his family.

Now that the appeals court has reopened the investigation, Mony, who was elected president of the union Vichea led, is pointing the finger at the government--and the government doesn't like it.

"I am ready to take responsibility and dare to be imprisoned for my conclusion about my brother's case, which is that the government prepared a plan to kill my brother."

A government spokesperson has already announced that it plans to sue Mony, though it has not yet filed the suit. In Cambodia, judges can order imprisonment for libel, in addition to monetary compensation.

In recent months the regime has been using the courts, which it controls, more and more frequently to silence its critics.

In the most recent case, opposition member of parliament Mu Sochua lost her defamation suit against Prime Minister Hun Sen, who then won his countersuit against her after having her stripped of her parliamentary immunity.

Meanwhile the United Nations and the ILO have welcomed the reopening of the investigation, saying, "It now seems beyond doubt that there is insufficient evidence to maintain the charges against Born Samnang and Sok Sam Ouen. ...The charges against the men should now be dropped, allowing the police to resume the search for those really responsible for shooting Chea Vichea in January 2004."

ABC Radio Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:51:00 +0000

Who Killed Chea Vichea? director Bradley Cox comments on the United Nations' call for the Cambodian government to drop the charges against Born Samnnang and Sok Sam Oeun.

Interviewed by ABC Austrialia's Liam Cochrane on August 21, 2009.

Read the transcript
Listen to the audio (Windows Media)

A longer wait for justice

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun appeared on Monday at the Appeals Court, which was under orders from the Supreme Court to re-open the case.

And re-open the case it did. The judge ordered further investigations. While he did not clear Samnang and Sam Oeun of the murder of Chea Vichea, he said they should feel like "free men that can enjoy all their rights."

An observer at the hearing writes:

We're left with mixed feelings. On one hand, everyone's happy they were not sent to back to jail but realistically that wasn't going to happen. On the other hand, it's now five and half years, and the prosecution has failed to build a case against the two; in any decent country, their charges would have been removed.

It appears the appeals court had to open such a hearing to fulfill the order to re-investigate. If this is true, then I guess the re-investigation will last for roughly a century.

The Cambodian authorities are in a trap of their own making.

Under international pressure, they convicted two innocent men, as we show in Who Killed Chea Vichea?.

Again under international pressure, they freed those two men (conditionally anyway).

In theory, what should happen now is a real investigation to find the actual killers -- exactly what they tried to avoid by framing Samnang and Sam Oeun five and a half years ago. The fact that the court didn't exonerate them puts an end to any hope of that, if there ever was a hope.

News articles:
Phnom Penh Post (English)
Cambodge Soir (French)
Deutsche Presse Agentur (English)

Appeals court hearing tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:02:00 +0000

Anxiously awaiting news from the Appeals Court, which is scheduled to re-hear Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun's case tomorrow.

It seems as if the closer the movie gets to being finished, the more the outcome of their case changes. As of now they are free -- we hope the Cambodian government doesn't reverse that.

Voice of America

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:45:00 +0000

Documentary Probes Chea Vichea’s Murder

From the English-language version of VoA's radio interview in Khmer:

“Who Killed Chea Vichea?,” a new documentary from filmmaker Bradley Cox, screened in Rhode Island last week. ...Rights groups have welcomed the film, claiming it sheds light on the innocence of the two men and the shortage of independence within the court system.

“Evidence in the video will show better that neither of the accused were Chea Vichea’s killers in 2004,” Om Samath, a rights investigator for Licadho who has been following the case, told VOA Khmer last week. “This is a good thing that will push the Appeals Court to seriously look into the case and hopefully be able to bring the real killer for prosecution and give justice to the victims.”

Read the full article

Directorial Discovery Award!

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Bradley Cox, 2009 winner of the Grand Prize for Directorial Discovery at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, for Who Killed Chea Vichea?

RIIFF report

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:48:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who turned out for yesterday's screening of Who Killed Chea Vichea? at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

This was my first time screening a film at a festival, and I was pretty nervous going in. But wow, people actually showed up, filled the theater, watched attentively, reacted at the right places, forgave the technical defects that remain to be fixed, and asked smart questions at the end. You got it. We actually have a movie here!

Thanks to everybody who helped out -- Bill, Christine, Susan for postering, the GCB for hosting the party, Judith and Peter for sponsoring the pizza. And everyone else who helped out in little ways, or just showed up to support the film.

It's been a long road to get to this point, and we still have a little way to go, but being there to see an audience appreciating the work we've done is quite a reward.

Fake killers face re-trial

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:04:00 +0000

After seven and a half months of freedom, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are scheduled to go back to court on August 17.

The Appeals Court has been instructed by Cambodia's Supreme Court to re-investigate the charges against them: that they murdered Chea Vichea on January 22, 2004. It is on that charge that they served nearly five years in prison.

From VoA coverage:

“I want the case to end soon because I am innocent,” Born Samnang told VOA Khmer. “I have done nothing. I am waiting for the court to pass its judgment.”

Whatever the outcome of this new hearing, it will be yet another trial related to Chea Vichea's murder in which has nothing to do with the murder itself. As we show in Who Killed Chea Vichea?, the police immediately set about framing these two men, apparently to the exclusion of carrying out any real investigation.

A few thanks, in advance

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:59:00 +0000

It's time to recognize a few people who have really stepped up to help with our screening in Providence next Friday, August 7.

Bill Barta and Christine Francis have been postering and distributing postcards all over town for days. We're especially trying to reach out to Providence's Cambodian community, which numbers about 8000 to 10,000 people, and Bill was telling me about his visits to temples, social service organizations and other places where people recognized Chea Vichea's name and were so happy that there's a movie about him.

Susan Yund has also been postering, and what's more, has arranged for the bar that she runs to host an after-party for the screening. (More details to come, in a separate item.)

And of course there's George T. Marshall and the Rhode Island International Film Festival itself. Aside from accepting Who Killed Chea Vichea? into the festival, they have generously made a block of tickets available to a group of Cambodian and Laotian youth from the Providence Youth Student Movement who otherwise could not afford to see the film.

Thank you all!

Screening in Providence - Aug 7

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:41:00 +0000

Having grown up in beautiful Providence, RI, I'm happy to announce that next Friday, August 7, Who Killed Chea Vichea? will screen (in a near-complete state) in the Rhode Island International Film Festival.

This is an excellent festival to get into, with a packed schedule of interesting films running all week. (I'm hoping to to see Sweet Crude, among others.)

I'm especially pleased that Who Killed Chea Vichea? will be shown in the historic Columbus Theater, where so many have enjoyed the great works of cinema over the years. If you're from Providence you know what I mean.

Better move quickly on to the details...

Who Killed Chea Vichea?
Friday August 7, at 5:20pm
Columbus Theater, 270 Broadway
Providence, Rhode Island

(Included in this screening, the short films In Their Boots: Broken Promise by Abe Greenwald and Open Air by Shira-Lee Shalit)

Tickets are $10 and you can buy them online or at the door; call the festival office at 401-861-4445 for more information.

If you live in or near Providence we hope to see you at the show. In any case please spread the word to any friends or family there (just copy and send this link).

You can also help "add to the buzz" by registering on the festival web site and adding Who Killed Chea Vichea? to your calendar.

And there's more! We invite you to join us at the GCB afterwards, where courtesy of the management you can enjoy a free beverage from 8 to 10 pm, just by showing your ticket stub from the screening. Walk (30 min) or drive to Power Street, just west of Thayer. Walk down the ramp from Power Street and go through the black door on the right. Sorry, 21+ only in the bar.

Preview screening: Seoul, Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Chengye Plaza, the scene of the 13th Annual Seoul Human Rights Film Festival.

All films are screened outdoors, free to the public, as the festival organizers refuse to ask for official clearance for each film, and therefore can't rent a hall. That's an attitude we like!

Who Killed Chea Vichea? screened June 5th and 14th.

Life after prison

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:58:00 +0000

Five months after their release pending a new trial, the two men convicted in Chea Vichea's murder (as shown in Who Killed Chea Vichea?) are trying to rebuild their lives. Story from Voice of America:

Each morning, a thin Born Samnang stands anxiously near a staircase at a crowded market in central Phnom Penh, looking for clients. Now a motorcycle taxi driver, Born Samnang is trying to put five years of turmoil behind him. ...

In memory: Mr. Vuon Phon

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:13:00 +0000

We are saddened to report the passing of Mr. Vuon Phon, of Takeo province, on Sunday April 12. He lived to see the release of his son Sok Sam Oeun from prison just a few months ago.

Mr. Phon's insights remain a great contribution to Who Killed Chea Vichea?. Brad interviewed Mr. Vuon several times for the film. He writes:

"He was a class act. He always impressed me with his dignity, his wisdom and his tenacious devotion to his son. I enjoyed his company immensely. I've met many good people while working on this project, but I admired Vuon Phon greatly. Another friend described him as majestic. I think it's a good word. He will be missed."

We extend our condolences to Sam Oeun and to the rest of his family.

Screening and Q&A at Harvard

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:11:00 +0000

download this poster

An announcement for those of you in and around Boston:

On Friday April 17, Brad and I will be screening a preview cut (that is, not totally finished) at Harvard University's Asia Center.

It starts at 12:15pm in the CGIS South Building, seminar room 050, concourse level, and is followed by a Q&A.

If you're in or near Boston, this is great chance to get an early look at the film before the final narration, music and graphics go in. It's open to the public and admission is free.

Here's how to get there:

View Larger Map

Mony nominated for rights award

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:28:00 +0000

Chea Mony tells Brad about the day his brother was assassinated.

After Chea Vichea was killed, his brother Mony stepped forward and was elected to lead the the Free Trade Union of Cambodian garment workers. Since 2004 he has served as the union's president.

In addition to his work with the union, he has been unstinting in his resolve to clear the names of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, who were convicted of the assassination and served nearly five years until their release on December 31 pending a new trial.

Now Mony, who features prominently in Who Killed Chea Vichea?, has been nominated for the 2009 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. Martin Ennals was the first secretary general of Amnesty International; the award is sponsored by Amnesty and nine other leading human rights groups.

“I live in fear every day and am conscious of the risks I'm taking, but there are over 250,000 workers in Cambodia’s garment sector and they need to be defended by independent trade unions."

--Chea Mony

Amnesty: We've Made a Difference

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:10:00 +0000

(Thank you to everyone who responded to our appeal to support the film on Tuesday, which was the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Chea Vichea. If you read it and are thinking of donating, please don't wait -- this is the time! Click here to help.)

"Together we've made a difference," says Amnesty International of the court decision to release Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun three weeks ago.

"They didn’t do it, I believe, as a result of some suddenly acquired respect for the rule of law," writes Shane Enright, "they reacted as a consequence of the persistent protests of Cambodian workers, supported by Amnesty and union activism and the unwavering spotlight we put them under."

Brad's "detailed investigative journalism," he adds, "has helped keep the public spotlight on the case." Absolutely. That investigation is what you and millions of others will see in Who Killed Chea Vichea?. You, and millions of others around the world -- and the government of Cambodia knows it.

In Phnom Penh, both Samnang and Sam Oeun joined hundreds of other people for a march commemorating the anniversary. The Phnom Penh Post reports:

The two men, released from prison pending retrial after the Supreme Court cited discrepancies in their case, joined civil society leaders in laying wreaths next to a portrait of Chea Vichea and issuing calls for an independent investigation into the labour leader's death.

"I am very happy that I have opportunity to pay my respects to the spirit of Chea Vichea," Born Samnang told reporters. "I want to tell the people and the international community that I am not a killer. I hope the government will not allow the criminals to continue their activities against the people of our country."

"We have a small amount of justice due to the[ir] temporary release" the Post quoted Vichea's brother Mony saying, "but we still have no real justice because the real murderers and their accomplices are living freely." (article)

As the anniversary approached, there were indications that the retrial of Samnang and Sok Oeun in appeals courts, as ordered by the Supreme Court, could be approaching.

The Post quoted Sam Oeun's defense lawyer saying "The case documents are now being prepared to be filed to the Court of Appeal to conduct an investigation which, according to judicial procedure, takes at least a month." (article)

However, it appears the authorities have not said when the trial might take place -- and as long as there's no trial, Samnang and Sam Oeun will remain free but with 15 years of prison time hanging over their heads. Meanwhile, just as Mony said, the real murderers are still out out there.

Help make history

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:16:00 +0000

History isn't what has happened. History is what is known to have happened.

Five years ago today, Chea Vichea, the outspoken leader of Cambodia's garment workers, was shot down on the street in Phnom Penh. Within minutes, Bradley Cox was there with his camera as police swarmed the scene.

Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were arrested only days later, and Brad was there. The framing of these two innocent men started his five-year journey to record history as it happened.

"Who Killed Chea Vichea?" isn't even finished yet, and it's already having an impact. Samnang and Sok Oeun were released by the Supreme Court three weeks ago, after five years in prison. And again, Brad was there to film it.

While it's impossible to know for sure why Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were released, many observers have told us that the film must have played a big part in the decision. The government was well aware of it, and the government relies on foreign aid.

But their names have not been cleared. The case against them has gone back to the appeals court. Meanwhile the real killers are still out there. The same is true of the killers of human rights advocate Om Radsady, radio announcer Chor Chatharith, actress Piseth Pilika and many others who have found themselves on the wrong side of power in Cambodia.

As long as these crimes go unpunished inside Cambodia and unknown outside Cambodia, fear will continue to rule. This film is meant to help change that fact.

We need your help now to finish this film and make history.

A typical documentary of this scale costs $400,000 to $600,000. We are making our film for half of that. Beyond putting in our personal resources and countless hours of work, we are making every additional dollar count.

Why? Because like you, we're passionate about the truth. We're passionate about this case and we're passionate about human rights in Cambodia and around the world.

While we are receiving public television funding, it is not enough. We are only a few months away from finishing the movie but we still need to raise money to help pay for a small office space in New York, to help pay for an editor, for graphics and sound mixing, and more. For example:

$50 pays for a typical festival entrance fee
$200 pays for a hard drive, or for the rights to a video clip
$500 pays for one day's shooting
$1000 pays for screening the film for workers in Cambodia or another garment-producing country

Will you help us?

If you can donate $200 or more we will list you as a donor on the big screen, on the home DVD and in the TV version if possible. In any case we will list your name on the web site. (Thanks again to those who are already there!)

Thank you for your support. May the new year bring justice and joy.

Rich Garella,
Jeffrey Saunders
and Bradley Cox

PS:
We received this note recently from one of our translators in Cambodia; for his own safety he doesn't want his name used:

This work made me more determined to fight in this highly unbalanced war. Compared to Vichea my sacrifice is much much less. How can I remain idle for Vichea's cause? Once again thanks for your help for the cause of my country. Your work has an incredible value.

One day, we will be able to give him the credit he deserves, along with all the other Cambodians who risked their own safety to help make this film. Your support now can bring that day closer.

Interview: Ka-Set

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:05:00 +0000

From the French- and English-language publication Ka-Set:

Film-maker Bradley Cox tackles the mystery surrounding the murder of Cambodian unionist Chea Vichea
By Stéphanie Gée, Jan 19, 2009

January 22nd will mark the 5th anniversary of the assassination of charismatic trade unionist Chea Vichea. Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, for their part, only just dodged their fate of yet spending another day behind bars. Both men were convicted of murder and condemned to spend 20 years in jail, but the highly unpopular verdict of their guilt left many unsatisfied. Lack of credible evidence... Trial marred with irregularities... On December 31st 2008, the Supreme Court ruled, much to the amazement of the audience and many, their release on bail.

The American film-maker Bradley Cox took a deep interest in the case at its beginnings and set out to lead his own parallel investigation. For four years, he tracked down witnesses and clues and eventually put together a dossier in the form of the thriller-like documentary film “Who Killed Chea Vichea”, due for release this year and for which the film-maker still seeks financing. Bradley Cox gave an interview for Ka-set in Phnom Penh.

Read the interview

Reactions

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:00:00 +0000

From The Phnom Penh Post:

"Looking back later, we would hope that this is when the Cambodian judiciary turned the corner. ...But we can't say this solves the problem. One case doesn't make or break a long pattern of deeply entrenched impunity," said Sara Colm of Human Rights Watch.

... Suon Sareth, executive secretary at the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee, shared Colm's wait-and-see approach.

"When the Cambodian court has a case like this, they can't abruptly drop it. They delay, delay, delay and hope it will be forgotten. When they say they will conduct a new investigation, they will find nothing, and it will take years," he said.

From Brad

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Garella) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:42:00 +0000

I arrived at the Supreme Court at 7 a.m. A lot of photographer and journalist friends of mine were already waiting there, but no one was very optimistic about what was about to happen in the next few hours. I couldn't find a single person who thought that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun would be released that day. I had to include myself in that too.

The two men arrived shortly before eight. Since cameramen and photographers aren't allowed inside the courtroom, we were only allowed a few seconds to take pictures as they were hastily brought inside.

It resembled a rugby scrum, but this was one occasion where being taller than the average Cambodian really comes in handy.

Almost a hundred people waited outside, including twenty-five members of Sok Sam Oeun's family. Officials from the American, French, Swedish, German and Australian embassies listened to the proceedings inside. The hearing went on all morning, much longer than everyone expected.

Everyone was confident that the court would delay its decision for another day when less media would be around. Why have an audience when delivering bad news?

To everyone's surprise, after about four hours, there was a recess, with a decision to come afterward. About an hour later, the verdict was announced. Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were to be released!

It was a complete shock to everyone. No one could believe it, people were giddy, even the guards were smiling. Sok Sam Oeun's mother, who had barely said a word in all the time I've known her, was talking non-stop.

And in the five years I've known Born Samnang's mother, it was the first time I ever saw her smile.

There was just one last problem, getting the paperwork done so that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun could be officially freed.In the meantime they were driven back to the prison.

And it was a lengthy, bureaucratic process. Supreme Court justice Dith Munty had to sign an official document ordering their release, then it had to be delivered to the Ministry of Interior and signed off on and then brought to the warden of the prison for his OK (plus a few other steps that I can't quite remember), all before Samnang and Sam Oeun could actually be set free.

The folks at Licadho (the human rights organization that has championed their case from the outset) was anxious to get them out the same day since the next day was January 1, a holiday when all government offices would be closed.

After five years in custody for a crime they didn't commit, it seemed just plain wrong that they'd have to wait another two days for the paperwork to go through. But by 5 pm, the documents were still in transit and nobody was quite sure where they were.

But the resourceful Licadho staff pulled a few strings and at 7 pm, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun were released.

I very much wanted to film the moment of their release and their re-uniting with their families. But the sky was dark, there were no lights and it had started to rain. Prison officials refused to let me shoot inside the prison and once the two men had stepped outside, it was like stepping into a sea of black ink. I couldn't see a damn thing. I thought I had lost the moment, gone for the lack of light or even a moon.

It was then that Born Samnang's mother insisted on bringing her son to the pagoda to cleanse him and wash away the bad events of the past five years.

So we all went to the wat. And then there was light. A meager neon light but it was enough.

A Buddhist monk, smoking like a chimney, sprinkled holy water on Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun as they kneeled side by side. I thought this was largely a figurative ritual but no! The monk lit another cigarette and proceeded to hose them down with a garden hose. For a full five minutes. Can't get too clean. The water was freezing, their bodies were shivering, their teeth chattering and Sok Sam Oeun was laughing hysterically.

Afterwards, the parents dried them off and it felt as if the two families were one. It was finally time for them to go home.

I had anticipated a kind of "Midnight Express" ending where the son is finally reunited with overjoyed family members. But there was no exuberant celebrations, no boisterous outbursts and it was was so much better. It was a good way to end the year.

And it's all on tape and pretty soon, you'll see it all.

cheers from Phnom Penh
Brad