11/9/2018

Surviving Bokator

Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival

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91 mins | Documentary | Cambodia | Central Khmer, English

Directed by Mark Bochsler

What started as a genocide survivor’s dream to revive an ancient sport becomes an inspiring mission to heal a nation.

Surviving Bokator is a heartfelt story about reclaiming cultural identity and building bridges between generations. Filmed over five years, the film is told through the struggle of an elder genocide survivor to resurrect the ancient Cambodian martial art of Bokator and preserve it in the nation’s youth. Through their journey, the film reaches the very core of the generational fracture happening in Cambodian communities around the world today—a fracture between genocide survivors determined to revive and maintain traditional ways and Cambodia’s youth looking to forge ahead.

Filmmakers are expected in attendance for a post-film Q&A.