OPENING - For a Smile of the Future: 50 years after the fall of Phnom Penh

Experience a captivating documentary film screening alongside a moving photo exhibition that offers intimate glimpses into Cambodia's journey.

Explore themes of Memory, Resilience and Hope as we reflect on a significant chapter in history. This is more than just an event; it's a chance to engage with powerful stories that inspire and educate.

The film director and curator, Iv Charbonneau-Ching, and the photographer of the exhibition, Roland Neveu, will be joining us. Don't miss this opportunity - Secure your ticket now and be part of this impactful experience!

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Commemorating a Tragic History

On April 17, 1975, Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, fell under the final assault of the Khmer Rouge, leading to a tragic genocide that targeted educated individuals and dismantled the country's educational infrastructure.

While millions of inhabitants were forced onto the roads of slavery, hunger, and, for so many, death, hundreds of foreign nationals sought refuge within the walls of the French Embassy. Not knowing what fate awaited them, they sought to ward off fear by organizing, as best they could, their lives as castaways. Beyond the walls of the Embassy, they became powerless witnesses to a tragedy unfolding before their eyes.

In light of the 50th commemoration of the fall of Phnom Penh, Pour un Sourire d'Enfant (PSE) /For a child’s smile organised this art exhibition, curated by Iv Charbonneau-Ching, to make these rare memories visible and audible, and invite visitors to reflect on the fragility of human lives in the face of violence, and on the vital need to transmit these experiences so they are not forgotten. More than a return to the past, it is a human encounter that still speaks to us today.

Info: Directed by Iv Charbonneau-Ching, this documentary tells the poignant story of a family's return to Cambodia after fleeing the Khmer Rouge regime. Through personal narratives, it confronts the painful realities of exile, loss, and the search for memory and understanding in the aftermath of trauma.

Info: Iv is the curator of the exhibition and Franco-Cambodian documentary filmmaker. He teaches cinema and history at the French International School of Hong Kong, blending his cultural background wth his passion for visual arts.

Info: The photo exhibition, featuring around twenty large-format photographs from Roland Neveu and stories from survivors, sheds light on the personal experiences of those who lived through this dark chapter in history. Roland Neveu is a former war photographer (Gamma Agency, Time Magazine) and later a set photographer collaborating with renowned filmmakers (Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott, Brian de Palma). He covered the capture of Phnom Penh, for which he published 2 books: “Cambodia: Years of Turmoil” & “The Fall of Phnom Penh".

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