島ぜんぶでおーきな祭-第7回沖縄国際映画祭-

Film lovers visiting Sakurazaka Theater in Naha on Friday 27 might have been forgiven for thinking they’d be watching a low-budget realist drama when approaching Cambodian production “Gems on the Run.” And with an opening scene in black and white, of three boys at play on the streets of Phnom Penh, such suspicion might have seem to be warranted.

But, then, cue Cheky Athiporn – singing karaoke in a pink robe in his bedroom – and suddenly Cambodia’s biggest budget production came to life. Directed by Sok Visal and Quentin Clausin, the French co-production tells the tale the three young boys once older. After one dies in a street scuffle, the other two, who haven’t spoken for 15 years are reunited in the most unlikely fashion.

While Athiporn’s lovable character Rith has grown up in his father’s footsteps as a police officer, Vandy Vibol portrays Sovann, a troublemaker who ended up in part of a violent criminal gang. When a jewel heist goes awry, Sovann finds himself holding the diamonds, and with no choice but to try to escape the country. With Rith initially unaware of the predicament, a road adventure begins that combines issues of social class, crime, friendship and family in Cambodian society.

At the end of the screening, both Cheky Athiporn and Vandy Vibol took to the stage to greet the audience, who gave them a rapturous round of applause. The duo explained how the movie came about.

 

“I was working as the Assistant Director on the film, so I was handing casting and trying to find the right people for each role, when I found Cheky on Facebook!” said Vibol. “And actually, because I was recording all the videos of the casting to send to the directors, they had seen me many times playing the bad guy role. And they decided to cast me too!” he added.