Watch Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll

Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll is a documentary film directed by John Pirozzi in 2014. The film tells the story of Cambodia's vibrant rock and roll scene in the 1960s and how it was destroyed by the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s. The film features interviews with surviving musicians, archival footage, and photographs to reconstruct the world of Cambodian rock and roll before it was silenced by the Khmer Rouge. The film is a tribute to the artists who created a unique musical culture in Cambodia that blended local traditions with Western influences.

The film begins with a brief history of Cambodia, focusing on the country's independence from France in 1953 and its subsequent alignment with the United States during the Vietnam War. It was during this period that Western music started to enter the country, and Cambodian youth began to embrace rock and roll.

The film introduces a few key Cambodian rock stars who became famous in the 1960s and early 1970s. These include Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Sereysothea, and Pen Ran. The film shows footage of their performances, interviews with their family members, and testimonials from friends and colleagues.

The rise of Cambodian rock coincided with a period of economic growth and cultural vitality in the country. The film shows how the music became a soundtrack to the modernization of Cambodian society, as young people embraced new styles of dress, dance, and free expression.

The film then turns to the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge, which took over Cambodia in 1975. The Khmer Rouge targeted anyone associated with the former regime, including intellectuals, artists, and musicians. Many of the rock stars featured in the film were imprisoned or killed during this period.

The film shows how the Khmer Rouge attempted to erase all forms of culture and artistic expression from Cambodia. They destroyed musical instruments and recordings, and forced musicians to play patriotic songs that were created by the regime.

The film ends by showing how Cambodian rock and roll has started to make a comeback in recent years, thanks to efforts to recover lost recordings and spread awareness of this unique musical history. The film concludes with a tribute to the artists who perished during the Khmer Rouge period and a call to preserve and celebrate Cambodia's rich cultural heritage.

Don't Think I've Forgotten is a moving and informative documentary that sheds light on a fascinating chapter in Cambodian history. It provides a rare glimpse into a now-lost musical culture that helped define a generation and a nation.

Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll is a 2015 music movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 79.