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The passion for Cambodia and its cultural wealth animates the projects of several creators, among which one stands out director And writer whose journey is rich in significant experiences. His return to his origins, guided by a desire toundertake andinnovate, allows him to weave links between the past and the present, while exploring the challenges oflocal entrepreneurship. Through her creations, she seeks to highlight the stories of those who, like her, feel the call of Cambodia and work towards a promising future.
French director and writer Séverine Roels never stops weaving stories around Cambodia, between historical memory and innovation cultural. Through her films and novels, she highlights the challenges and successes of the Cambodian people, while committing to telling the stories that deserve to be told. At the dawn of a new adventure, Séverine is preparing to return to Cambodia, not only to explore new projects, but also to establish links with local artists and immerse herself in this rich culture.
An inspiring journey of directing and writing
Séverine Roels knew how to captivate her audience with powerful works juggling between documentary And fiction. His emblematic work, Go Back, follows the journey of Candice, a young woman of French-Khmer origin, returning to Cambodia to discover her roots. This documentary, filmed in 2002, was not only a personal journey, but it also allowed us to question the heritage of the past among new generations. During a projection in 2025 at Bophana Center, Séverine then spoke about her production experience and the fruitful collaborations between Cambodian and French teams.
The beginnings: Memory in the spotlight
When Séverine began to delve into the Cambodian world, she first made the documentary Survivors of Year Zero in 2001. Through this project, she gave voice to members of the Khmer community of Nantes, testifying to the memories of survivors of the genocide. She knew how to combine archive images with stories of a painful times, because each interview revealed the weight of memories, whether it was the desire to forget or the desire to rebuild.
A dialogue between generations
In her work, she emphasizes: “The older ones preferred not to talk about it, it was too painful. But the younger ones wanted to understand.” This intergenerational approach lays the foundations for an essential dialogue for memory transmission within the Cambodian community.
A transformative experience
Growing up in a Franco-Khmer family with a Cambodian stepfather, Séverine always felt the weight of this personal history. She says: “I was walking on eggshells bringing this up because it was painful for him.” This observation pushed her to explore Cambodia in more depth, in particular by focusing on the experience of her half-sister Candice in Go Back. This project allowed him to begin a real human adventure, supported by a recognized technical team.
The power of real-time documentary
The filming of Go Back took an unexpected turn when Séverine’s family decided to replay the scenes of their 1975 exodus. The film then highlighted the anguish and sadness, accentuated by a poignant sequence, where survivors meet their former jailer. This moment of tension and of reconciliation marked both Séverine and the public.
A moment of truth
“We didn’t expect this face-to-face encounter. Their former jailer was still there, living in the same village. It was a shocking moment of truth.”
A new generation facing history
Over time, Séverine became aware that today’s Cambodia is inhabited by a majority of young people who do not always know the tragic events of the past. “For some exiles, time stopped in 1975. They live with frozen memories.” This observation highlights the importance of memory transmission and the risk of leaving young people without guidance. The permanence of history therefore remains a key to the future, and she deplores that this is often minimized in the Cambodian school textbooks.
Rediscovery and cultural innovation
Today, Séverine wants to explore the cultural wealth of Cambodia through an ambitious project entitled The People of Singers. This would highlight the preponderant role of singing in the daily life of Cambodians. “Here, we sing at every moment of life: for births, weddings, funerals… It’s a form of living memory.”
A look at oral tradition
His project could culminate with a documentary that follows several singers, revealing the impact of oral tradition in Khmer culture. This desire to preserve and enrich local culture demonstrates its unwavering commitment.
Literary perspectives and future projects
Alongside her documentaries, Séverine has also explored deep fictional narratives. His novel 1780, which immerses the reader in French history through the eyes of a modern woman, reflects her taste for mix of genres. Currently, she is taking notes for a project inspired by her last trip to Cambodia. “I saw and heard so many things during my stay that I feel the need to put them into words.”
A promising return to Cambodia
Considering her return to Cambodia for several months in October, Séverine aspires to deepen her research and establish relationships with local artists. His quest is simple: “I want to take the time to observe, to listen, to immerse myself in this culture.” This is how it maintains its link with Cambodia, between entrepreneurship And innovation artistic.
To discover other initiatives related to entrepreneurship in Cambodia, do not hesitate to read This item, or explore the works of Séverine Roels.
FAQ on Séverine Roels’ return to Cambodia
What works by Séverine Roels are linked to Cambodia? Séverine has produced several projects, including the documentary Go Back and the novel Durian Feast, which explore his roots and Cambodian culture.
What is the documentary about? Go Back ? This documentary follows the journey of Candice, a young Franco-Khmer woman, who sets out to discover her origins in Cambodia, through the history of her family and the memories of her father.
How does Séverine Roels approach the memory of the Cambodian genocide? Through his films, notably Survivors of Year Zero, it seeks to give voice to survivors and their descendants, while emphasizing the importance of transmitting this memory.
What is Séverine’s new project on Cambodian culture? She wishes to highlight the place of singing in the daily life of Cambodians through a project entitled The People of Singers, which could lead to a documentary.
What feedback does she make on the challenges of the Cambodian community today? She observes that many exiles have remained stuck in the past, while young Cambodians sometimes seem disconnected from the country’s recent history.
What are Séverine’s future literary projects? She is working on a literary project inspired by her last trip to Cambodia, in which she wishes to recount her experiences and impressions.