Seasons of Migration (56 min) is a documentary about Sophilene Cheam Shapiro's four part classical Cambodian dance about the stages of culture shock. It blends the dance with commentary about the music and choreography, and personal stories of emigration and culture shock from Cambodian-American residents of Long Beach, California (the largest Cambodian city outside of Cambodia).
Also included on this DVD, a second video (38 min) presents the complete dance, shot with multiple cameras. The dance is interesting for its use of a classical vocabulary to address contemporary themes. It was produced by John Shapiro of the Khmer Arts Academy.
SELECTED SCREENINGS & AWARDS
Dance on Camera Festival, New York, 2007
Taiwan International Ethnographic Film Festival, Taipei, 2007
Everglades International Film Festival, Dargle, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, 2007
Cinemekong, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2007
Cambofest, Phnom Penh & Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2007
Eugene International Film Festival, Oregon, 2008
Beverly Hills Hi-Def Film Festival, California, 2008
Strategies From Within: An Exhibition of Vietnamese & Cambodian Contemporary Art Practices, Shanghai, China, 2008
Apsara: Spirit Of Cambodia (Exhibition), Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2008
Nominee: Asian Pacific Screen Awards, Gold Coast, Australia, 2008