support khmer films
saturday afternoon i went to see my first movie, kmoch neang tey (the ghost of tey) @ kirirom theater. the experience was quite like no other!
tickets per person was 5000 riels, roughly $1.25 usd. no popcorns were available for purchase, but instead snacks such as beef jerky, sour mangoes, shrimp chips, and a small selection of beverages.
in khmer theaters, one cannot sit where one desires. instead, a staff directs you to cluster in together with others in attendance. it was a little over half full, which i thought was good considering we caught a 2 pm showing. maximum capacity maybe 300.
the majority of those watching were teenagers from age 13-21, with very few above that age group. most were females.
the actual theater screen was 1/3 less than american standards. the acoustics were mediocre.
so after a movie preview and commericals, the movie began. if you're familiar with khmer cinemas, you know that the technology behind the development still lags when compared to neighboring countries such as thailand and vietnam. their film industry has taken off these last several years, but encouraging enough, so has khmer films.
i expected obnoxiously squeakly dub voices. i was correct. i expected cheesy special effects. again, i was correct. what i didnt expect were how locals interact while watching the film.
everyone talks during the movie, but usually enough that you can tune out what they are saying. no one ever shuts off their mobile. everyone screams, then immediately laugh after the "scary" part.
the movie ended. the leading star, chea samnang was in attendance and two of us dared to get groupie and get a picture with him. i also picked up a movie poster of the next week's flick which i will come and watch.
