Program Note
Sorya, a Cambodian-Japanese manga artist preparing for her debut as a writer, returns home after cremating her deceased mother. While sorting through her mother's belongings with her boyfriend, they come across an old cassette tape and photos of buildings and relatives in Cambodia. This piques Sorya's interest in her mother's homeland. Coincidentally, her company criticizes her for having talent but weak stories and characters, prompting her to visit the Building in Phnom Penh where her mother lived, to meet her relatives. Unlike the rapidly developing surrounding areas, the Meta Building appears stuck in the 1970s like an old relic. The residents and relatives Sorya meets there exude a strange atmosphere, and Soria becomes increasingly plagued by nightmares and visions. This Cambodian horror film, continuing the recent trend of Southeast Asian horror, combines the traditions of Japanese horror with Cambodia's indigenous religious world to create a sufficiently ominous and terrifying cinematic space. Additionally, by incorporating the dark history of Cambodia during the Khmer ROUGE and dictatorship era into the background, the film enriches its narrative depth. (KIM Young-woo)