The films
Deacon of Death
A documentary by Jan van den Berg and Willem van de Put.
A Cambodian woman confronts the man whom she holds responsible for the death of her family and other villagers under Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime when she was a child.
New dvd release with extra's
An other dvd with extra's: discussions with elders in the village wherethe film was made, and with law students in Phnom Penh. The dvd is being released within the framework of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia. Release: September 2009.
The story
The atrocities Sok Chea witnessed as a child during the rule of Pol Pot continue to haunt to this day, nearly thirty years later.
So she is shocked when she suddenly comes across the man who was in charge of her prison and whom she holds responsible for murdering most of her family. Once again he holds a prominent position, this time as Deacon of Death or leader of cremation ceremonies.
She decides to collect evidence against him. He must stand trial. But can she succeed in a country still ruled by fear, where justice is virtually non-existent and corruption endemic? Besides which, Cambodians believe in karma and forgiveness. Wrongdoers are punished after their death anyway and will suffer for many lives to come. Sok Chea’s quest leads her to a confrontation with Karoby, in the same pagoda where the atrocities occurred.
Credits
Photography Brigitte Hillenius, additional photography Jan van den Berg
Sound: Pim Verdonk, additional sound: Yos Vong Dara, Max Frick, Han Otten
Editing: Srdjan Fink, Babbe deThouars, Pim Verdonk, Luce van de Weg
Sound editing: Bart Jilesen Soundpalette
Script: Marina Alings, Jan van den Berg, Willem van de Put
Music advice: Paul Oomens
Dancing teacher Vuth Chan Moly
Dance: Ouk Somaly
Translations: Ouch Sovanna,Willem van de Put, Liesbeth Blankhart, Peter van Oers
Titles: Guido van Eekelen
Color: correction Hans Buitink
Producers: Chan Theary, Loran Kuijpers, Nathalie Nijkamp
Direction: Jan van den Berg
Commissioning editor: Babeth M. van Loo
The producers wish to thank:
Henk Bakker, Jolie Ermers, Jan van Geloven, Marinde Hurenkamp, Jean Karel Hylkema, Pheng Pong Rasy, Gert van Rees, Sin Khin, Marc Vandenberghe, Dick Willemsen, Stan Neumann, Binger editing workshop, Youk Chhang, Cambodian Documentation Centre, The authorities of Ang Tasom, Healthnet International, The royal Netherlands embassy of Bangkok
Music:
Lou Harrison: Rekindling of the Fire from Solstice (1949)
Leta Miller (flute) & ad hoc ensemble directed by Dennis Russell Davies
Charles Koechlin: La veille fontaine from L'ancienne maison de campagne op. 124 (1923-33)
Deborah Richards (piano)
Valentin Silvestrov: Allegro vivace from Post Scriptum for violin & piano
(1990-91)
Gidon Kremer (violin) & Vadim Sacharov (piano)
Lou Harrison: Molto adagio from Concerto in Slendro (1961)
Maria Bachmann (violin) & California Symphony directed by Barry Jekowsky
Funded by:
BOS Buddhist Broadcasting Foundation
Dutch Cultural Broadcasting Fund
ICCO Interchurch Organisation for Development and Co-operation,
NCDO National Committee for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development.
A co-production of drsFILM and Buddhist Broadcasting Foundation
Trailer
Film fragments