CAMBODIANS ABANDON AMNESIA IN DON’T THINK I’VE FORGOTTEN
A documentary of the musical history of Cambodia from 1954 to 1975, Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten traces the country’s music stars until most die in the Pol Pot era. Directed by John Pirozzi, Cambodia is depicted as a musical capital of Southeast Asia, with Prince Sihanouk as one of the singing stars. Film footage and posters of the past are embedded in the fast-moving narrative. At the same time, the film contains a history of modern Cambodia, with occasional remarks by Professor David Chandler. Music is said to be closer to the people than politicians, and the style of music reflects outside influences as well as the political history of the country. Thus, the Khmer Rouge realized that they could most effectively change the country’s culture by eliminating past musical hits and requiring stars to offer politically correct dullness. There is a gap between what the movie identifies as the “liberation” in 1979 by Vietnamese troops and the present, when the music industry is reappearing, albeit only with memories of the past. The film makes the point that the coup of pro-American military in 1970 encouraged the Khmer Rouge, and American bombing of the Khmer Rouge strengthened their support because indiscriminate bombing of civilians, who did not understand why they were being attacked, left the people no other patriotic choice. (In fact, the bombing continued after the Khmer Rouge won the Cambodian civil war until November 1975, when the War Powers Act was passed.) Perspicacious viewers may infer that Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten also implies that American bombing of North Vietnam also sealed the fate of South Vietnam, a scenario now being repeated within several countries of the Middle East. That thesis is presented in Good Kill. MH