Under the Same Sky-Cambodia: A story of coming home

Under the Same Sky - Cambodia is now available for free online streaming via Youtube. Supplied

The picture opens with Georgina Pearson who, after living a carefree lifestyle in Cambodia for 10 years, decides to go back to the United Kingdom. Before bidding farewell to the country, she goes on a journey with her Khmer friend Lim Tong, a moto-taxi rider who carries an unrivalled knowledge of the winding streets of Phnom Penh.

Under the Same Sky – Cambodia explores this unique friendship as Mr. Tong takes Georgina on a whirlwind tour of the Kingdom while sharing memories from his past. Each confrontation with the ghosts of Cambodia’s tragic Khmer Rouge history leads eventually to Georgina accompanying Mr. Tong as he returns to the village and family he was forced to abandon 42 years ago.

The story which revolves around the re-discovery of the wonders and horrors hidden within the capital is an engaging and altogether moving cinematic slice of life – a story that is sure to linger in one’s memory.

This is the second film to be directed by Mr. Wiggins. His first film was titled “Inside the Belly of a Dragon,” a decidedly quirky story which narrates the Chaplinesque journey of a heartbroken clown travelling through Cambodia.

“I once went on a road trip through Cambodia with some friends, Georgina included. I made a fun video of the trip and Georgina played up to the camera. I could see she had a great talent for presenting which planted the seeds to one day make a travel documentary with her. She introduced me to Mr. Tong a few years ago and I thought he had an incredible personality. Then, ideas to include him in her travel film began to take shape,” said Mr. Wiggins.

The director said he never went to film school or had any training. He learnt a lot of filming and editing on the fly, with every day as a learning curve for him.

Mr. Wiggins added: “I feel I have a deeper understanding of what the majority of people went through during that dark time: most of the population died from being overworked and underfed. I also learnt a lot about the resilience of Cambodians and I have tremendous respect for that.

“I think I fell in love with Cambodian village life, especially the generosity of the people and how they look out for each other. I ended up moving to a village and building a Khmer-style house which I love.”

The real challenge, according to him, was persuading Mr. Tong to return to his old village after 42 years, as he was reluctant at first owing to the too many painful memories it held for him. He also wouldn’t allow them to get establishing shots with a drone as he was worried about authorities. The only equipment used in the film were two Panasonic GH5, a tripod, a gimbal, and a Tuscan sound recorder equipped with a microphone.

Mr. Wiggins noted: “We didn’t have a crew. It was just me filming and directing. We had Rob O’Hara on sound and Georgina and Mr. Tong. Rob produced the music with samples from the Kampot Cultural Development Institute, Khmer vocalist Vy Lida and Tro [khmer fiddle] musician Vy Nget.”

Asked about the film’s raison d’etre, he said he would like people, who may otherwise not give the Kingdom a second look, to look closer into what the nation has to offer. Underneath the Kingdom’s garbage-strewn streets and dubious architectural planning, Mr. Wiggins said, there still lies incredible kindness and beauty within.

The film, in some way, acts as a call to expatriates who have become disheartened by life in the urban areas, to act on the wanderlust that has propelled them to come to the country in the first place.

“I also would like people to think about the Pol Pot years and question what they believe as it is easy to think the Khmer Rouge was all evil. It is not the case at all and it is a very complicated history right up to the present day. We can learn more from the people who lived through it rather than by just reading a book.

“There are a lot of people out there with stories to tell but quite often none of the younger generations wants to listen. I am certainly not an expert on the history and that is why we let Mr. Tong just tell his personal story and not try to add more facts from research,” explained Mr. Wiggins.

Under the Same Sky – Cambodia has been streamed online since April 23. Interested viewers may watch the documentary via Youtube on the “Creative Cell” channel.

Credited: Khmer Times