This video has been playing almost non-stop on Cambodian television since Sihanouk died. Filmed in 1965, I can only guess that it was some sort of propaganda film. Nevertheless, it gives marvelous views of mid-century Cambodia and a quaint, pretty Phnom Penh.
One of Sihanouk's principal objectives during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum period was to modernize Cambodia's infrastructure. An artist at heart, he chose ambitious Cambodian architects to lead these projects. The resulting 'New Khmer Style,' which is on full view in the video above, combined European 'International' style with Khmer vernacular building techniques.
One of my initial reasons for coming to Cambodia was to learn about this period and today's small preservation movement as a possible topic for a research project, which unfortunately never came to fruition. Many of these buildings, even the flagship projects such as the Olympic Stadium, are in danger of being destroyed and replaced by glass box malls or Chinese bathroom-tile villas. The current regime does not share Sihanouk's appreciation for the avant-guard, or even uniquely Cambodian styles.
For those in Cambodia, the full-length version of this video and others from the period are available to view at the Bophana Research Centre in Phnom Penh.
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