In the Life of Music

I can't watch the movie, can someone help me please??

As a second-generation Cambodian-American, "In the Life of Music" struck a chord with me. No pun intended. Great feature films made by ethnic minorities are a rare treat. A feature film made by a Cambodian-American is even rarer, and I savored every moment of it.

I was particularly struck with Ellen Wong's performance as a Cambodian-American trying to gather up pieces of her family's history despite the English-Khmer language barrier between her and the older generation. It's an issue I identify with in my own life since many older Cambodians refugees struggle with English due to a combination of immigrating at an older age, severe trauma and hardship from war, lack of financial resources, and access to education. A lot of second-generation Cambodian-Americans, like myself, have difficulty communicating with the older generation because our Khmer language skills diminish due to overworked parents trying to make ends meet don't have much personal time for family, and/or formal language classes in Khmer aren't really available in our communities.

What ends up happening is a huge language and cultural gap between 1st generation and 2nd generation Cambodian-Americans. 1st Generation Cambodian-Americans have trouble speaking about their past history and experiences either because of language difficulty or the experience was too painful to talk about. 2nd Generation Cambodian-Americans have trouble asking and learning/understanding about those experiences.

This film, "In the Life of Music" tries to create a cultural bridge between the two generations who have trouble understanding one another through the shared experience of music. And I think the film does a great job at it since 1960s Cambodian pop music was one of the few things the older generation had and held onto in America. And it's also one of the few things 2nd Gen Cambodian-Americans can use to relate to our parents since it's often part of our childhood experience at family events or restaurants. The only other thing that remotely comes close to it would maybe be ...the Southern California donut.

"In the Life of Music" is an incredibly beautiful and touching story. Wonderfully woven, the music composition, sounds, and narrative...So many layers of emotion---humor, sadness, nostalgia, and hope---I felt it all. I hope everyone has a chance to see it. As a second generation Khmer American, it is incredibly uplifting to see the arts, particularly the cinematic arts, growing in the Khmer diaspora. Pre-war Cambodia, the Khmer Regime, and post-genocide to now...I think we are seeing the start of a new era of stories and artists emerging alongside paying homage to the music, language, and traditions of Cambodia. When people think of "Cambodia", it won't just be about the killing fields or Angkor Wat, but because of films like these, we can also show the richness, potential, and resilience of a people.

"IN THE LIFE IS MUSIC" is one the best film I've ever seen. Anything from acting, directing, and costuming are on point. The cinematographer is outstanding. My most favorite part is music. Listening to Cambodian music made me laugh and cry at the same times. The acting was authentic especially the lead actress Ellen Wong Played HOPE. By watching this film. I've learned so much about Cambodia. Caylee So and Sok Visal are very talented directors. They brought everything to life. I would recommended everyone to watch this film. I definitely want to see it again.

It was a beautifully made movie that warms the heart and brings tears trickling down... loved it! Thank you for making the movies that shows the power of music!