White Building
Spring Grants 2020 - Post-Production Stage
Kavich Neang / Feature Narrative / Cambodia, France, China, Qatar / 90 min / Original Language: Khmer / Interests: Coming of age, Drama, Politics, Social Issues, Youth, Based on a True Story
Synopsis
Raised in Phnom Penh’s landmark tenement—the White Building—20-year-old Samnang and two friends, Tol and Ah Kha, dream their dance routine can reach the stage of a television talent contest. However, their youthful habits are upended when Ah Kha reveals he will soon leave Cambodia. Months later, the White Building is less busy. Samnang’s neighbours debate the government’s compensation offers for residents to move out due to the building’s impending demolition, but Sam increasingly worries about his father’s worsening health. Samnang’s father, the local chief for the building, neglects his leg infection while unsuccessfully attempting to bring together his divided neighbours traumatized by a painful collective history. As Samnang’s nightmares converge with the deep-rooted fears shared by his parents and this diminishing urban community, Samnang begins to understand that the stable environment he has always called home is on shaky ground. He comes to recognize his own generation’s responsibility to determine its own future. But it is too late; the building is demolished. Samnang stays with relatives in the countryside far from Phnom Penh, but plans a return to the city soon, even if he remains unsure of the right step to take.
Credits
- Director
- Kavich NEANG
- Screenwriter
- Kavich NEANG, Daniel MATTES
- Producer
- Davy CHOU, Marine ARRIGHI de CASANOVA
About the Director
Kavich Neang was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1987. He has directed five short films since 2011. He first studied under Rithy Panh, and in 2013, he joined Busan's Asian Film Academy. In 2014, he co-founded Anti-Archive alongside Davy CHOU and Steve CHEN. He joined Cannes Cinéfondation's Residency in 2017-18. His 2019 documentary 'Last Night I Saw You Smiling' won the NETPAC Award at IFFR, the Special Jury Prize at Jeonju, Best Image at Janela de Cinema and two awards at Tokyo FilmEx. He is now completing his first narrative feature, 'White Building', due to premiere in 2020.