A new documentary takes a look at Cambodia’s unlikely protectors.
Beyond the Noise is a three-part anthology from the perspectives of a young woman, a community architect, two conservationists, and two designers. In their own little ways, these people preserve Cambodia’s way of life by protecting nature, preserving culture and strengthening their local communities. The documentary film is divided into three episodes entitled “Roots,” “Currents,” and “Remade,” each tackling a different aspect of Cambodian life.
“Roots” highlights the Kuy—an indigenous community found in various Southeast Asian countries like Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The section is told from the points of view of a refugee-turned-community-architect and a young Kuy woman, showing how they use architecture, oration and public visibility to keep the traditions of the Kuy people alive.
“Currents” features two unlikely Cambodians—one from a landlocked province and the other from the city—and their love for the ocean and marine life along a remote coastline. The last segment, “Remade,” follows the journey of a woman who built her business from the ground up, and a designer who refused to be kept out of the industry.
“In a world that frequently rewards the loudest voices, we intentionally choose to listen to those who speak softly but carry the most profound responsibilities. Storytelling carries a systemic responsibility. As global attention shifts toward sustainability, authentic personal narratives have the unique power to rebalance who gets seen, who gets funded and who gets supported at the grassroots level,” said Cheryl Ng, founder of Human of This Planet—an initiative that shares the untold narratives of people from all walks of life—in an interview with Phnom Penh Post.
The French Institute of Cambodia and Human of This Planet are holding a premiere screening with English and Khmer subtitles for all three episodes with talkback sessions on June 19 at the French Institute in Cambodia, with episodes set to go online later this year.