Red Sense - World Premiere

It's taken a bit longer than expected but the World Premiere of Tim Pek's directorial debut, The Red Sense, will open at a gala event in Australia at The Drum Theatre, Dandenong, Victoria, Melbourne on Saturday 8 March.
Shot in Australia, the story centres around a young woman who discovers that the Khmer Rouge soldier who killed her father, is alive and well and living closeby. She is torn between wanting to take revenge or if in forgiving her father’s executioner, she could bring healing to herself and her people. The film features a Khmer cast, all of whom have their own connection to the Khmer Rouge genocide. Talented actress, Sarina Luy, who plays the role of Kong Jan Melear, the young woman who discovers her father’s murderer living in her neighbourhood, says “My parents always talk to me about all the difficulties that they went through during that time.” She arrived in Australia in 1995 from New Zealand, after having left a refugee camp in Thailand, in 1991. Each member of the crew had a different reason for wanting to do the film, and for feeling the film was important. “I think the Khmer Rouge time is a powerful memory in the hearts of older people, and they will never forget and forgive.” She says. “I really think this film is very important for overseas Khmers, especially all the teenagers should know about the history and the difficulties that our poor people have gone through.” Sarina also co-wrote the theme song for the film, Svaeng Ruk Pup Tmei.
Following the film's premiere in Melbourne, the Director Tim Pek will bring the film to Cambodia - very timely of course with the Khmer Rouge Tribunal currently occupying everyone's attention in Phnom Penh - and is seeking sponsors, followed by a worldwide dvd release in the future. You can find out a lot more about the film at their website.

Actress Sarina Luy