Cambodian cinema flourished in the 1960s, drawing huge crowds to theaters around the country, until the industry was destroyed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Of the 400 films produced, only 30 remain today. Almost all the actors were killed during the reign of Pol Pot and only a few of the directors were able to flee the country. Most of the old movie theaters of Phnom Penh have become restaurants, karaoke clubs, or squats.

Davy Chou’s groundbreaking docu “Golden Slumbers” (2011, 136 min) resurrects the myths and legends of this lost cinema. Through survivors’ stories and the search for remnants of their era in modern Phnom Penh, the film reveals the vital importance movies had for an entire generation, as well as the complex legacy they leave today’s youth to inherit..

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Davy Chou is a Cambodian-French filmmaker. He has written, directed, and produced several films. Chou made his feature-length dram debut with “Diamond Island” and made his follow-up with the film “Return to Seoul” – on the “Guardian’s” list of the 10 best indie films 2023.