Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock And Roll
Directed by John Pirozzi
US / Cambodia, 2014, 106 min, in English, Khmer and French with English Subtitles
Through the eyes, words and songs of its popular music stars of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, DON'T THINK I'VE FORGOTTEN: CAMBODIA'S LOST ROCK AND ROLL examines and unravels Cambodia's recent tragic past.
"Fitting into a niche of heart-stirring music documentaries like
'Searching for Sugar Man' and '20 Feet From Stardom.'"
Press
Perfect Sound ForeverOffers insights into this era of Cambodian rock music.
A.O. Scott, New York Times - NYT Critics' PickA rich and defiant effort at recovery, showing that even the most murderous totalitarianism cannot fully erase the human drive for pleasure and self-expression.
A.v. ClubEvery bit as entrancing and haunting as the lost music it celebrates.
Village Voice (Critics' Pick)A rich patchwork tapestry of powerful and ebullient music.
Hollywood ReporterIf Don't Think I've Forgotten is any indication, this Southeast Asian country has a lot of soul.
San Francisco ChronicleVery good and moving. Deserves the widest possible audience.
Washington PostA fervent cry for the power of music.
Boston GlobeThe music, the stuff of cultish collectors for decades, is thrilling.
La WeeklyResurrects and revives this ghost music, breathing life into it once again.
Pacific AffairsDoes more than document a lost moment in time—it may also generate new knowledge and connections through its circulation. A moving and valuable project.
Gambit WeeklyEssential. You'll never understand the soul of a people without taking a long, close look at their cultural life.
Art 21 MagazineA living archive.
Chicago ReaderEye-opening and moving.
The StrangerA musical restoration of the country's history, a celebration of art, and an homage to those who paid for it with their lives.
Seattle TimesThere is a universal appeal.
Austin ChronicleA poignant and important reminder that art matters.
Pittsburgh City PaperHeartbreaking. A tough but uplifting reminder that no matter what awful things humans do to each other, art survives.
Examiner.comWhat a bold feat of a film this is! If you love music...then you need to see this film.
Review ExpressBeautiful, atmospheric and most of all lively.
Washington City PaperStriking work.
Ten Best Movies of the Year East Bay ExpressA brilliant cultural excavation, connecting survivors' memories to a generation's worth of energetic music.
The DissolveThe sheer range of music on offer is astonishing.
Spectrum CultureMore than a music documentary.
Film Journal InternationalMakes the whole period come alive.
Weekly AlibiCarries with it a sense of discovery so profound it's practically archaeological.
Bay Area ReporterEngaging and detailed. A kind of cultural restoration project.
Mother JonesInfectious music. Shattering.
Asian Educational Media ServiceWhat makes this film unique – and uniquely powerful – is its detailed account of the richness and vitality of the culture that was all but destroyed by the Khmer Rouge.
Educational Media Reviews OnlineThis film is captivating, moving, and informative—it's an outstanding production.
Video LibrarianA powerful film about the enduring legacy of a culture's music even in times of severe repression, this is highly recommended.
Sound DiegoA huge revelation for the music history books...Provides a completely refreshing new perspective.
Asbury Park PressRiveting. At once exotic and familiar, intoxicating and revelatory.
Helena Independent RecordA poetic remembering of a culture lost during war. Serves as an ode to gentle, loving people who suffered terribly, but somehow have kept their spirit.
Santa Fe New MexicanThis story needs to be told, and this music needs to be heard.
KEXP BlogStunningly told and peerlessly edited. Lush with gorgeous sights and sounds.
Twitchfilm.comA celebration of music's resilient, lingering power.
Nonfics.comA fascinating, beautifully realized story that urgently needs telling.
Memphis Commercial AppealAn irresistible documentary exploration of the wonderfully lush and occasionally psychedelic popular music produced in Cambodia.
From The Projection RoomPirozzi gets it right. [The film] assists in deepening the humanity and underscoring the richness of Cambodian culture.
Ink 19A labor of love that shines the spotlight on performers who made great music and whose legacy was almost erased.
Reel And RockMesmerizing.
Rochester City NewspaperCrucial. A testament to human resilience.
Reel World ReviewsThis is a fantastic film then, filled with terrific music and colourful characters, all tied together by an astute journalistic heart.
ArtshubAny admirer of historic footage will love the jewels to be found in this film.
Film-ForwardA giddy whirlwind...tons of vintage footage.
San Francisco WeeklyCambodia's music scene had plenty to offer.
Folio WeeklyEmploys clever animation and colorful sequences to capture the energy of the rock scene.
Vita.mnReminds us of music's essential role as cultural unifier.
Madison Film ForumThis film does a great job capturing this little known gem of history.
Louis ProyectA glowing tribute to the universality of art.
Ben Sisario, New York Times FeatureFitting into a niche of heart-stirring music documentaries like 'Searching for Sugar Man' and '20 Feet From Stardom.'
Rolling StoneThat the documentary exists at all is a triumph.
VICEPersonal and detailed. This project was an extensive undertaking.
Boston Globe FeatureRemarkable. The footage is a revelation.
Wall Street JournalThe country's music scene was special—a vital force in a rapidly changing nation.
New RepublicThe sound is thrillingly new for American audiences.
New York Daily NewsRevives a lost art. Bracing.
Phoenix New TimesSometimes a music documentary reaches a state of transcendence. John Pirozzi's new film is that kind of movie.
NewsdayPaints a picture of...Phnom Penh as a vibrant city teeming with garage bands and rebellious rockers.
Huffington PostPatches together the vibrant, fraught history of the Cambodian rock and roll scene.
Bomb MagazineA spellbinding survey of Cambodia's lost era of psychedelia-infused lounge rock and roll. A high watermark of investigative journalism.
SlantInsightful. Compelling.
San Francisco Chronicle FeatureA real crowd-pleaser.
Oc WeeklyGoes beyond the sounds themselves to weave an emotional tale of how important music is to a society.
Examiner.comDoes the world a service in documenting the era.
Al Jazeera AmericaYou can't help but marvel at the power of (music) to sustain itself through the people who made it, and those who love it.
Columbus AlivePart historical document, part celebration of a nearly lost form.
Seattle WeeklyWonderful trove of well-edited archival footage.
BitchExpertly weaves Cambodian history and political strife through the lens of rock and roll.
Neon Signs[An] extraordinary story of the spirit of youth culture in the face of genocide
Creative LoafingAn essential document for anyone with an interest in the history of popular music from around the world.
International Center For Transitional JusticeHannah Dunphy interviews Dr. LinDa Saphan
Cambodia DailyExplores the unique fusion of sounds coming out of Cambodia in the 1960s and 1970s.