Rithy Panh

Rithy Panh (Khmer: ប៉ាន់ រិទ្ធី) is a French-Cambodian director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, actor and writer. During the years 1975 and following in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime, he lost his parents and part of his family, and young Rithy witnessed the worst atrocities. He survived in 1979 where he managed to reach the Mairut camp in Thailand then arrived in France in 1980. Rithy Panh is the author of numerous works which all have as a backdrop a Cambodia which is having difficulty dressing its pieces of theater and Where Rithy demonstrates his talent for immortalizing slices of life in which the protagonists give the impression of engaging while forgetting the camera. His work is imbued with the work of memory and the pain of survivors of the Pol Pot regime. He tries to rediscover Cambodian culture through cinema.

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Holy Lola (2004)

The story of a young couple, Pierre and Geraldine, and their desire for a child, which leads them on a journey of initiation to Cambodia. On their difficult and transformative adventure, they must contend with obstructive authorities and the jealousies and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bertrand Tavernier
CAST:  Isabelle Carré  •  Frédéric Pierrot  •  Lara Guirao  •  Maria Pitarresi

The story of a young couple, Pierre and Geraldine, and their desire for a child, which leads them on a journey of initiation to Cambodia. On their difficult and transformative adventure, they must contend with obstructive authorities and the jealousies and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bertrand Tavernier
CAST:  Isabelle Carré  •  Frédéric Pierrot  •  Lara Guirao  •  Maria Pitarresi

The Missing Picture (2013)

Rithy Panh uses clay figures, archival footage, and his narration to recreate the atrocities Cambodia's Khmer Rouge committed between 1975 and 1979.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Randal Douc  •  Jean-Baptiste Phou

Rithy Panh uses clay figures, archival footage, and his narration to recreate the atrocities Cambodia's Khmer Rouge committed between 1975 and 1979.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Randal Douc  •  Jean-Baptiste Phou

The Catch (2011)

When an American plane crashes in the Cambodian jungle, the pilot is taken captive by the Khmer Rouge. They instruct the kids of a village to keep an eye on the prisoner. While the younger kids gradually become friends with the stranger, the older boy called Pang ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Cyril Gueï  •  Jhem Chuop

When an American plane crashes in the Cambodian jungle, the pilot is taken captive by the Khmer Rouge. They instruct the kids of a village to keep an eye on the prisoner. While the younger kids gradually become friends with the stranger, the older boy called Pang ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Cyril Gueï  •  Jhem Chuop

Duch, Master of the Forges of Hell (2012)

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DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
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DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
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The Land of the Wandering Souls (2000)

In 1999 a fibre-glas wire was installed from Thailand to Vietnam straight trough Cambodia. Rithy Panh shows us the work done in Cambodia to connect Khmer-society to "modern world". Farmers, soldiers and children work for a living there and unearthen skulls and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

In 1999 a fibre-glas wire was installed from Thailand to Vietnam straight trough Cambodia. Rithy Panh shows us the work done in Cambodia to connect Khmer-society to "modern world". Farmers, soldiers and children work for a living there and unearthen skulls and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

Exile (2016)

Exil is a visionary narration of the exile of Cambodians during the Red Khmer regime, during which the country was renamed Democratic Kampuchea.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Sang Nan

Exil is a visionary narration of the exile of Cambodians during the Red Khmer regime, during which the country was renamed Democratic Kampuchea.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Sang Nan

France Is Our Mother Country (2015)

If you would like to witness the forces of colonialism in brute action, Rithy Panh’s extraordinary new film provides the long view. A masterpiece of editing, the film assembles archival footage and antiqued title cards into a wordless recapturing of the Indochinese ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

If you would like to witness the forces of colonialism in brute action, Rithy Panh’s extraordinary new film provides the long view. A masterpiece of editing, the film assembles archival footage and antiqued title cards into a wordless recapturing of the Indochinese ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

The Sea Wall (2009)

The film centers on a young French widow and her two adolescent children as they attempt to carve out a meager life for themselves by farming rice fields alongside the ocean in French Indo-China in the 1930s. Their efforts are hampered each year by the presence of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Gaspard Ulliel  •  Isabelle Huppert  •  Randal Douc  •  Stéphane Rideau

The film centers on a young French widow and her two adolescent children as they attempt to carve out a meager life for themselves by farming rice fields alongside the ocean in French Indo-China in the 1930s. Their efforts are hampered each year by the presence of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Gaspard Ulliel  •  Isabelle Huppert  •  Randal Douc  •  Stéphane Rideau

Paper Cannot Wrap Up Embers (2007)

During the last half-century, Cambodia has witnessed genocide, decades of war and the collapse of social order. Now, documentary filmmaker Rithy Panh looks at an irreparable tragedy that is less visible, yet no less pervasive: the spiritual death that results when ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

During the last half-century, Cambodia has witnessed genocide, decades of war and the collapse of social order. Now, documentary filmmaker Rithy Panh looks at an irreparable tragedy that is less visible, yet no less pervasive: the spiritual death that results when ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

S21: The Khmer Rouge Death Machine (2003)

Documentary of the S-21 genocide prison in Phnom Penh with interviews of prisoners and guards. On the search for reasons why this could have happened.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Chum Mey  •  Khieu 'Poev' Ches  •  Yeay Cheu  •  Nhiem Ein

Documentary of the S-21 genocide prison in Phnom Penh with interviews of prisoners and guards. On the search for reasons why this could have happened.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Chum Mey  •  Khieu 'Poev' Ches  •  Yeay Cheu  •  Nhiem Ein

Graves Without a Name (2019)

After The Missing Picture (Un Certain Regard winner 2013 and Oscar nominee for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2013) and Exile, Rithy Panh continues his personal and spiritual exploration. S21 the Khmer Rouge Killing Machine and Duch, Master of the Forges of Hell ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Randal Douc

After The Missing Picture (Un Certain Regard winner 2013 and Oscar nominee for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2013) and Exile, Rithy Panh continues his personal and spiritual exploration. S21 the Khmer Rouge Killing Machine and Duch, Master of the Forges of Hell ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Randal Douc

30/30 Vision: Three Decades of Strand Releasing (2019)

Over 30 filmmakers and friends of Strand Releasing have come together to honor the company’s indelible contribution to independent cinema over the past thirty years. The participating filmmakers have each created a short film for the project, all shot on iPhones.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brady Corbet  •  Gregg Araki  •  John Waters  •  Catherine Breillat  •  Tommy O'Haver  •  Isaac Julien  •  Ira Sachs  •  Fenton Bailey  •  Randy Barbato  •  Rithy Panh  •  Alain Guiraudie  •  Athina Rachel Tsangari  •  João Pedro Rodrigues  •  Connor Jessup  •  Jon Jost  •  Apichatpong Weerasethakul  •  Fatih Akin  •  Bradley Rust Gray  •  Alain Gomis  •  So Yong Kim  •  Bruce LaBruce  •  Christophe Honoré  •  Karim Aïnouz  •  James Schamus  •  Lynn Hershman-Leeson  •  Daniel Ribeiro  •  Jenni Olson  •  Rose Troche  •  Cindy Sherman  •  Jon Moritsugu  •  Tom Kalin  •  Lulu Wang  •  Amy Davis  •  Roddy Bogawa  •  Elisabeth Subrin  •  Andrew Ahn  •  Abu Bakr Shawky  •  Anna Franquesa Solano
CAST:  Maria Schneider  •  Drew Droege  •  Cindy Sherman  •  Sarah Yarkin

Over 30 filmmakers and friends of Strand Releasing have come together to honor the company’s indelible contribution to independent cinema over the past thirty years. The participating filmmakers have each created a short film for the project, all shot on iPhones.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brady Corbet  •  Gregg Araki  •  John Waters  •  Catherine Breillat  •  Tommy O'Haver  •  Isaac Julien  •  Ira Sachs  •  Fenton Bailey  •  Randy Barbato  •  Rithy Panh  •  Alain Guiraudie  •  Athina Rachel Tsangari  •  João Pedro Rodrigues  •  Connor Jessup  •  Jon Jost  •  Apichatpong Weerasethakul  •  Fatih Akin  •  Bradley Rust Gray  •  Alain Gomis  •  So Yong Kim  •  Bruce LaBruce  •  Christophe Honoré  •  Karim Aïnouz  •  James Schamus  •  Lynn Hershman-Leeson  •  Daniel Ribeiro  •  Jenni Olson  •  Rose Troche  •  Cindy Sherman  •  Jon Moritsugu  •  Tom Kalin  •  Lulu Wang  •  Amy Davis  •  Roddy Bogawa  •  Elisabeth Subrin  •  Andrew Ahn  •  Abu Bakr Shawky  •  Anna Franquesa Solano
CAST:  Maria Schneider  •  Drew Droege  •  Cindy Sherman  •  Sarah Yarkin

Site 2 (1989)

After having fled Pol Pot, Rithy Panh, a 15 year old Cambodian finds refuge at the Mairut camp in Thailand, in 1979. Ten years later, now a filmmaker, he returns to the camps to film the daily life of this threatened people. The peoples he meets, eaten away by ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

After having fled Pol Pot, Rithy Panh, a 15 year old Cambodian finds refuge at the Mairut camp in Thailand, in 1979. Ten years later, now a filmmaker, he returns to the camps to film the daily life of this threatened people. The peoples he meets, eaten away by ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

Cinéastes de notre temps: Souleymane Cissé (1993)

Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé reveals his passion for cinema, Africa and the world to Cambodian director Rithy Panh.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Souleymane Cissé

Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé reveals his passion for cinema, Africa and the world to Cambodian director Rithy Panh.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Souleymane Cissé

The Rice People (1994)

A poor, rural Cambodian family slowly disintegrates during the cycle of a single rice crop in this moving, and beautifully photographed European drama adapted from a novel by Shahnon Ahmad. Pouev, his wife Om, and his seven children, live in a small rural village ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Peng Phan  •  Mom Soth  •  Chhim Naline  •  Va Simorn

A poor, rural Cambodian family slowly disintegrates during the cycle of a single rice crop in this moving, and beautifully photographed European drama adapted from a novel by Shahnon Ahmad. Pouev, his wife Om, and his seven children, live in a small rural village ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Peng Phan  •  Mom Soth  •  Chhim Naline  •  Va Simorn

One Evening After the War (1998)

Set in the newly-pacified Phnom Penh, this film is about the return to civilian life of Cambodian soldiers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Chea Lyda Chan  •  Ratha Keo  •  Sra N'Gath Kheav  •  Peng Phan

Set in the newly-pacified Phnom Penh, this film is about the return to civilian life of Cambodian soldiers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Chea Lyda Chan  •  Ratha Keo  •  Sra N'Gath Kheav  •  Peng Phan

The Burnt Theatre (2005)

A blend of fact and fiction, based on the actual lives of the actors, the film depicts a troupe of actors and dancers struggling to practice their art in the burned-out shell of Cambodia's former national theater, the Preah Suramarit National Theater in Phnom Penh.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Bopha Chheng  •  Hoeun Ieng  •  Rotha Kèv  •  Sok Ly

A blend of fact and fiction, based on the actual lives of the actors, the film depicts a troupe of actors and dancers struggling to practice their art in the burned-out shell of Cambodia's former national theater, the Preah Suramarit National Theater in Phnom Penh.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  Bopha Chheng  •  Hoeun Ieng  •  Rotha Kèv  •  Sok Ly

Irradiated (2022)

A film about people who have survived the irradiation of war and recommended to those who believe they are immune to it.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  André Wilms  •  Rebecca Marder  •  Bion

A film about people who have survived the irradiation of war and recommended to those who believe they are immune to it.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST:  André Wilms  •  Rebecca Marder  •  Bion

Bophana: A Cambodian Tragedy (1996)

Based upon documentation of forced confessions made during the Khmer Rouge era in Cambodia, this film reconstructs the relationship of a young woman, Hout Bophana, and Ly Sitha before they were tortured in executed in 1977.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

Based upon documentation of forced confessions made during the Khmer Rouge era in Cambodia, this film reconstructs the relationship of a young woman, Hout Bophana, and Ly Sitha before they were tortured in executed in 1977.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rithy Panh
CAST: 

Wandering Souls

Wandering Souls follows the mounting of a new stage production, Bangsokol: A Requiem for Cambodia, to honour the nearly 2 million Cambodians who died during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979. Commissioned by Cambodian Living Arts, the Requiem is a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aviva Ziegler
CAST:  Rithy Panh  •  Him Sophy

Wandering Souls follows the mounting of a new stage production, Bangsokol: A Requiem for Cambodia, to honour the nearly 2 million Cambodians who died during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979. Commissioned by Cambodian Living Arts, the Requiem is a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Aviva Ziegler
CAST:  Rithy Panh  •  Him Sophy
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