“When Elephants Weep” is a Cambodian rock opera that premiered in Phnom Penh in 2008. It was commissioned by “Cambodian Living Arts” (CLA) and loosely based on CLA founder Arn Chhorn-Pond’s childhood during the Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot.

It tells the story of Sam, a Cambodian-American rock producer and Khmer Rouge survivor, who returns to Cambodia and falls in love with a pop star named Bopha. The opera explores themes of cultural identity, the impact of war, and the intersection of traditional Cambodian music with Western rock and rap.

Q&A after screening with French-Algerian playwright Catherine Filloux and composer Him Sophy