To Speak is a Singapore-Australian-Cambodia co-production where the film is based on a collection of true stories told by its local villagers. Singapore-based Melbourne filmmaker Craig Ower, the director and writer of To Speak (produced by Lionel Chok) debuts in his daring approach to tell these “forgotten” stories of the Cambodians through his film.
From the early 1970s, Cambodia had experienced a devastating period of civil strife, displacement of its population, foreign military occupation, and extended political isolation. Years of war had led them to the total collapse of public services. During the reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, Cambodian cities were depopulated and the country's economic and social infrastructures were largely dismantled. As a result of the country's fractured health care infrastructure and widespread poverty, most of these victims have little access to appropriate physical, vocational, or economic rehabilitation assistance.
During Pol Pot’s regime, the Khmer Rouge totally shut the country off from the outside world, enforced the people in slave camps, where a word or even a sigh could get you killed…
Set in the post Khmer Rouge regmie, ‘To Speak’ the film shows a 12 year-old Ratana’s struggle towards a better life, from her impoverished rural village. In order to realise her dream and struggle against poverty, she was almost expelled from her own villagers. The film follows the girl as she continues the will to survive. However, a better life in Cambodia seems far and impossible…
From the early 1970s, Cambodia had experienced a devastating period of civil strife, displacement of its population, foreign military occupation, and extended political isolation. Years of war had led them to the total collapse of public services. During the reign of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, Cambodian cities were depopulated and the country's economic and social infrastructures were largely dismantled. As a result of the country's fractured health care infrastructure and widespread poverty, most of these victims have little access to appropriate physical, vocational, or economic rehabilitation assistance.
During Pol Pot’s regime, the Khmer Rouge totally shut the country off from the outside world, enforced the people in slave camps, where a word or even a sigh could get you killed…
Set in the post Khmer Rouge regmie, ‘To Speak’ the film shows a 12 year-old Ratana’s struggle towards a better life, from her impoverished rural village. In order to realise her dream and struggle against poverty, she was almost expelled from her own villagers. The film follows the girl as she continues the will to survive. However, a better life in Cambodia seems far and impossible…
Over the course of its production, the film stirred much debate over its identity. As it’s a film shot in Cambodia, and produced by Singapore-Melbourne filmmakers, it was difficult to claim state specifically what is its country of origin. The Singapore Film Commission (SFC) has even claimed that its content does not seem to belong to any part of Singapore.
In addition, To Speak is fully self-funded as it did not meet the requirements for SFC’s Project Development Scheme. The SFC claimed that ‘To Speak’ the movie can not be considered a Singapore’s feature film, as the content does not seems to be ‘Singapore’ enough, as the film was shot entirely in Cambodia with most crew members being foreigners. This production also did not acquire funding from the SFC’s Script Development initiative as it could not meet the intended production schedules..
“To Speak” is the literal translation from Khmer of the name of a special Cambodian community development organization (known as Tabitha in English). It is the intent of “To Speak” to give voice, in a small way; to the millions of Cambodians who struggle daily to confront the trauma of their past and rebuild their shattered lives.
To Speak is currently in Post Production and due to be released to festivals come May 07. At this point, it is uncertain whether To Speak will be screen in Cambodia…
For more details – visit: http://www.tospeakmovie.com
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