Funan is an animation based on historical facts partly collected from Director Denis Do’s mother and others who have been through similar experiences, thus enhancing its realism despite its dramatic elements as a fiction film.
The film tells a harrowing story about the miseries of a young couple, Khuon and Chuo, during the brutal Communist Regime of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in the 1970s. Still enjoying modern life in Phnom Penh, the capital city, they are suddenly forced to evacuate from their home to be exiled to an internment camp with the other families. On the way, Sovanh, their son, gets lost. What happens thereafter depicts the horrid situation they are thrown into.
Struggling through slave labour and severe food shortage in the communist labour camp, they still hope against hope that they will be reunited with Sovanh, believed to be in the care of their grandmother in another camp. Meanwhile, they witness one tragedy after another as the Cambodians are subjected to cruel treatment under the Angkan regime, which keeps boasting of the birth of the so-called new society and promising to “reward those who work hard”.
According to Director Do, the screen is split into two equal parts — characters and landscape. And this is done with excellent animation skills to achieve the desired effects. There are indeed quite a number of characters with heartrending experiences, which, when put together, can very well give a vivid picture of what actually happened during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror.
Understandably, it is no easy task telling the characters apart as all are dressed alike and even with the uniform hairstyle. However, the carefully drawn strokes showing certain features on each individual face, Chuo’s bristles and Lily’s freckles, for example, make them easily identifiable. The subtlest change of facial expression is also shown to convey emotion -- the communists’ cunning and meanness, Chuo’s weariness and bitterness, all attributed to the awesome digitally hand-drawn animation skills.
Presumably, the director prefers to show the violence off screen. In fact, the vastness and attractiveness of the Cambodian landscape chosen as a backdrop to the tragic story somehow serves to lessen the impact of the atrocities and bestial acts, which would, otherwise, have been more heart wrenching and devastating in a live-action film. Where the Cambodian people toil day and night are beautiful scenic paddy fields, ostensibly a very pleasant sight if not for the cruelty of the communist taskmasters, often armed goons.
On the whole, this film takes the audience on an engaging and emotional trip through love, loss, pain, fear and then hope. Though not recommendable for kids below 12, it is a family movie with a special appeal for viewers with an interest in a history lesson on the political turmoil of South-East Asia. In brief, it is a must-see.
沒有留言:
張貼留言