Meta magic

I've been quiet on the Meta House front for the last month or so as to be honest, they weren't showing anything that grabbed my attention. I've been a regular visitor to their roof-top cinema and exhibition rooms for many months now so it was unusual not to set foot in their Street 264 headquarters for a few weeks. However, the month of August will see an end to my absence, in a big way. In fact Nico and his team have surpassed themselves with their program for this month. I've already penciled in a dozen nights' worth of viewing and it could be more! The main focus will be next Saturday (9th Aug) when filmmaker Steve McClure will be on hand to present a story of courage and survival in Rain Falls From Earth - Surviving Cambodia's Darkest Hour. Steve has put his heart and soul into this project and the story he weaves includes interviews with Vann Nath, Em Theay and Thida Butt Mam. Don't miss it! Also on my 'must-see' list are 1960's footage including Sihanouk's Rose of Bokor film (Thurs 7th), the double-docu night of Kampuchea: Death & Rebirth with Inside Pol Pot's Secret Prison (Fri 15th), two of John Pilger's best-ever documentaries, Year Zero and The Betrayal (Sat 16th), Rithy Panh's One Evening After The War (Sun 17th), a slew of Vietnam documentaries and to close the month, the double feature of Dogora and Baraka (Sat 30th). Maybe I should bring my camp-bed and stay for the whole month.