Nice Hat! 5 Enigmas in the Life of Cambodia Introduced by director David Brisbin
Directed by David Brisbin
Canada/Cambodia, 2005
Color 86 Minutes
Show Times:
Sat., Nov. 12 7:00 PM
David Brisbin first visited Cambodia as a reporter in 1987. Since the opening of the borders in the 1990s, Cambodia has experienced a renaissance in the scholarship of the country´s history and culture. In this documentary, Brisbin explores the social history of Cambodian hats, from Khmer hats speaking of loyalty, war, and necessity, to headdresses connecting the past and present, heaven and earth. The film explains that the absence of a hat signifies divinity, devotion, or death. Interviews with Cambodian film directors, professors, and politicians add insight to what screenwriter Caroline Thompson calls "a fantastically rich perspective on the history of Cambodia."