CAMBODIANS IN AMERICA: REBUILDING THE TEMPLE (TV)
Summary
A documentary about the experiences of Cambodians
living in the United States, featuring interviews,
newsreels, photographs, and footage of Cambodian
Americans. The narrator describes Cambodian politics of
the 1970s and the Khmer Rouge, which forced 150,000
people to flee to the United States. Several Cambodian
immigrants talk about the devastation imposed on
Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge; they also share their
feelings about living in the U.S. The narrator talks
about Cambodian Buddhism as a unique system of belief.
Immigrant Boreth Sun of Massachusetts talks about
trying to adapt to the American way of life. The
Venerable Maha Ghosananda, a monk living in Rhode
Island, describes differences between Cambodian and
American culture and people. Some Cambodian
Americans, including several monks, talk about their
religion and the challenges presented when practicing
Buddhism in the U.S., while others talk about converting
to Christianity. Ethnomusicologist Sam-Ang Sam
compares Cambodian and American music. The narrator
discusses about several topics relating to Cambodian
culture: music and dance, gender roles and family life,
and families that have been torn apart by the Khmer
Rouge. Anthropologist Judy Ledgerwood talks about the
strength and importance of the Cambodian family, and
several Cambodian Americans discuss the clash between
the traditional values of the older generation and the
Western values of the more Americanized youth. Troury
Sor of Massachusetts describes the elements of a
traditional Cambodian wedding.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 2001/2002.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: February 3, 1993 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:35
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:74162
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/Documentaries; Cambodians - United States
- SERIES RUN: WGBH (Boston, MA) - TV, 1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Diane Garey … Associate Producer
- Claudia Levin … Director
- Lawrence R. Hott … Director
- Richard Einhorn … Music by
- Linda Hunt … Narrator
- Maha Ghosananda
- Judy Ledgerwood
- Sam-Ang Sam
- Troury Sor
- Boreth Sun