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Associated Movie: The Killing Fields, starring
Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich and Craig T. Nelson "Recommended. Seeing Cambodia today through the eyes of someone who has been there in the past adds a deep emotional feeling." -Ed. Media Review A personal perspective on Cambodia as seen through the eyes of a Thai woman who once worked in a Cambodian refugee camp; through encounters with day-to-day people, not politicians; through life, not death and war. Produced by Brian Bennett. 08DR/CL JSCA 60 min. |
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"Recommended. This is a contemporary view of Cambodia's
progress toward meeting the UN mandate that the government set up a genocide
tribunal to review the roles of the surviving members of the Khmer Rouge
Standing Committee. A thorough introduction to the continuing problem of the
"killing fields." -EMRO Review From 1975 to 1979 the Khmer Rouge killed a staggering 1.7 million people, an orchestrated slaughter of almost a quarter of Cambodia's population. Today, years after the last remnants of the Khmer Rouge surrendered their arms, the victims of their genocide are still waiting for justice. Pressure from the UN has prompted the Cambodian government to set up a genocide tribunal. Still, many survivors doubt that this tribunal will bring convictions and punish the guilty. Meanwhile, people live door to door with men who killed their families, a situation fostering cynicism and despair. Produced by ABC Australia. 08DR JSCA 20 min. |
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"Recommended. A well-documented history of this nation so
seriously scarred by war." -Video Librarian Cambodia's strife-ridden recent history is the subject of this illuminating documentary that chronicles the political and social events from Prince Sihanouk's troubled reign to present day Cambodia. Produced by Why Not Productions. 08DR/CL JSCA 50 min. |
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"Highly Recommended. This is an informative documentary
about the current political situation in Laos. Living in desperate poverty,
the Laotian people make their living mostly from subsistent farming. And
though officials deny there is any rebellious faction in Laos, interviews
with rebel leaders indicate an active movement to overthrow the
government." -School Library Journal Laos is often the forgotten land of Southeast Asia, overshadowed by its notoriously disaster-ridden neighbors: Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma). Narrated by reporter Ginny Stein, this revealing documentary shows the people of Laos live landlocked in desperate poverty, the poorest in Southeast Asia, and Laos' image of peace and harmony is enforced by a ruthless dictatorship that crushes all opponents. Amnesty International has long been aware of the poor human rights' record: "We know that torture and ill-treatment are endemic in Laos police stations and prisons. We know that people are imprisoned for their peaceful political and religious beliefs." Yet, unlike the situation in Myanmar (Burma), the oppressive methods here have seldom generated headlines and Laos has not suffered international sanctions. Produced by ABC Australia. 08DR JSCA 20 min. |
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Associated Article: 28 Places to See Before You
Die -Smithsonian Magazine "Recommended. Compares and contrasts the treatment of national treasures, the ancient temples at Angkor in Cambodia and Ayutthaya in Thailand. A check on the web will confirm that both Angkor and Ayutthaya are on current tourist itineraries." -EMRO Review Associated Article: Rescuing Angkor -Smithsonian Magazine A lesson in comparative histories of two states of ancient Southeast Asia, this program focuses on two ancient capitals: Ayutthaya of ancient Siam (now Thailand) and Angkor in present-day Cambodia. Produced by Canthai Productions. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Thailand is often called the "land of smiles," not only because visitors love its natural beauty and historical riches, but also because of the country's friendly people and fascinating culture. This program is purposely non-narrated, allowing the viewer to focus on the images and sounds of the country, its places and its people. Our visual journey into Thailand begins about 45 miles north of Bangkok in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, which was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong; it was once the capital of Thailand for 417 years and today is one of the country's major tourist attractions; it boasts numerous magnificent ruins, including the Ancient Palace, which was originally built by the first king. Thailand is a Buddhist nation, and because Buddhist values are such a part of daily life here, temples, monasteries and Buddha images are seen everywhere. Next we visit Pattaya; located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, it is a very popular center of tourism visited by millions yearly. 30 miles away is the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, an incredible animal kingdom where we see piglets that sleep with a mother tiger; also we see crocodiles, the "Scorpion Queen" and an Elephant Museum. Next we visit world famous Phuket with its glorious beaches, unrivaled marine life, performing elephants, a monkey that gathers coconuts, and delicious cuisine. For a slower pace we travel next to the relaxed east coastal towns of Cha-am and Hua Hin, elegant, well-established beach destinations, where we too find beautiful waterfalls and natural beauty, and the Sasi Garden Theater, which presents a genuine "Taste of Thai Culture and Tradition." Lastly, we indulge in the secluded and luxurious world of Chiva-Som, a private resort that provides everything to assure health and relaxation. Produced by Kanto Productions, LLC. 08DR SCA 22 min. |
| There are many reasons that more people visit the Kingdom of Thailand than any other country in Southeast Asia, and all of them add up to a country that is simply "magical." To make this program even more enjoyable to watch, Erik Estrada, Paul Sorvino, Stella Stevens, Lee Majors and Patrick Macnee are all here to guide us throughout this breathtakingly beautiful country. Thailand, we learn immediately, is a country with a modern society that exudes traditional values; it is filled with contrasts from metropolitan Bangkok, its largest city and capital, to vast jungles that are enriched with treasured wildlife. Here we see hundreds of symbolic ancient temples that reflect deep-rooted ties to Buddhism, while the Golden Triangle reminds us of a notorious past in dealing with Opium. Two memorable trips you experience include an elephant safari through the jungles and a long-tail boat ride down the Mekong River. From the villages to the beautiful sandy shores, you see the local culture and also discover the arts, kite flying and even Thai boxing. Produced by AT Productions. 08DR IJSCA 45 min. |
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"Recommended. The ageless Mr. Yao wows everyone. And the
Crocodile Farm, with its incredible collection of exotic animals, is a sight
to see. " -Video Librarian On the outskirts of Bangkok, Mr. Yao works at the Samut Prakarn Crocodile Farm that is also a large zoological garden, home to tigers, boa constrictors, monkeys, and many other animals. Produced by Robert Clark. 08DR/CL PIJSCA 30 min. |
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"Recommended. Excellent documentary on the life of the
Yellow Leaf people whose lifestyle is tragically being taken away." -Ed.
Media Review Narrated by Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H, Providence), this excellent program documents the lifestyle of the MlaBri Hill people, the "Yellow Leaves," a nomadic tribe of people living in the diminishing rainforest of Thailand; also it shows how technology and greed are extinguishing this culture. Produced by Malin Pongsapipatt. 08DR/CL IJSCA 20 min. |
| This program does a good job of picturing people who are successfully trying to pull themselves out of a swamp and become more than slum dwellers thanks to Father Joe, an American Redemptorist monk. Produced by Canthai Productions. 08DR/CL JSCA 30 min. |
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"Vietnam veterans return to Vietnam in search of a true
peace." -Ed. Media Review Americans enhance the peace process while they are the guests of Vietnamese veterans. Here we see a glimpse of today's Vietnam, a place of peace, with visits to Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City. Produced by L.B. Johnson. 08DR/CL JSCA 60 min. |