{{Short description|2014 American documentary film by John Pirozzi}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{infobox film | name = Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll | native_name = {{lang|km|កុំស្មានបងភ្លេច ខ្មែរបាត់បង់តន្ត្រីរ៉ក់}} | image = File:Don't Think I've Forgotten poster.jpg | director = John Pirozzi | producer = John Pirozzi<br/>Andrew Pope | editing = Daniel Littlewood<br/>Greg Wright<br/>Matthew Prinzing | music = Scot Stafford | distributor = Argot Pictures | released = {{Film date|2014|10|11|Festival du Nouveau Cinéma de Montréal}} | runtime = 105 minutes | country = United States | language = English, Khmer, French }} '''''Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll''''' is a 2014 documentary film directed by John Pirozzi about Cambodian rock music in the 1960s and 1970s, and the impact of the Khmer Rouge regime and Cambodian genocide on the local music scene. It received positive reviews from critics.
==Production== The idea for the film began when American filmmaker John Pirozzi was in Cambodia filming ''City of Ghosts''. He was given a copy of the album ''Cambodian Rocks'', a collection of untitled and uncredited music by artists presumed killed under the Khmer Rouge, and began researching the stories of the artists.<ref name=nytimes/><ref name=columbusalive/><ref name=bostonglobe/> Cambodian-born artist and sociology professor Linda Saphan acted as associate producer and lead researcher for the film.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/121609/you-wont-find-anything-its-all-been-destroyed|title="You Won't Find Anything. It's All Been Destroyed."|magazine=The New Republic|author=Nicholson, Malcolm Thorndike|date=21 April 2015|access-date=7 November 2017|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814144834/https://newrepublic.com/article/121609/you-wont-find-anything-its-all-been-destroyed|url-status=live}}</ref> The film includes profiles of influential performers like Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea, Pen Ran, Baksey Cham Krong, Liev Tuk, Huoy Meas, Yol Aularong, Meas Samon, Pou Vannary, and several others (including Pen Ram, Pen Ran's sister), most of whom perished during the Khmer Rouge genocide, plus interviews with surviving performers like Sieng Vanthy, Mol Kamach, Mol Kagnol, and members of Drakkar.<ref name="al Jazeera America">{{cite web|last1=Winchester|first1=Rupert|author-link1=9 April 2014|title=Cambodia's lost rock 'n' roll|url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/9/cambodia-s-lost-rocknroll.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035947/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/9/cambodia-s-lost-rocknroll.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film takes its title from a song by Sinn Sisamouth.<ref name=aoscott>{{cite news|last1=Scott|first1=A.O.|title=Review: In 'Don't Think I've Forgotten,' Cambodia's Lost Generation of Pop Stars|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/22/movies/review-in-dont-think-ive-forgotten-cambodias-lost-generation-of-pop-stars.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=13 February 2018|date=April 21, 2015|archive-date=13 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713152210/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/22/movies/review-in-dont-think-ive-forgotten-cambodias-lost-generation-of-pop-stars.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|100|7.5|23|ref=yes|access-date=2023-08-09}} On Metacritic the film has a score of 79 out of 100 based on reviews from 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/dont-think-ive-forgotten-cambodias-lost-rock-and-roll |title=Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll |website=Metacritic |access-date=2015-12-24 |archive-date=2015-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008115339/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/dont-think-ive-forgotten-cambodias-lost-rock-and-roll |url-status=live }}</ref> Film reviewer A.O. Scott of ''The New York Times'' mentions in short that, "Mr. Pirozzi's film is an unsparing and meticulous reckoning of the effects of tyranny on ordinary Cambodians. It is also a rich and defiant effort at recovery, showing that even the most murderous totalitarianism cannot fully erase the human drive for pleasure and self-expression."<ref name="aoscott" />
== Soundtrack == {{Infobox album | name = Don't Think I've Forgotten | type = soundtrack | artist = various artists | cover = | alt = | released = {{Start date|df=yes|2015|5|12}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Cambodian rock | length = | label = Dust-to-Digital | producer = John Pirozzi | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }} The soundtrack to ''Don't Think I've Forgotten'', featuring full versions of several songs that appeared as snippets in the film, was released on 12 May 2015. Personnel at Dust-to-Digital helped locate original versions of the songs and remaster them for compact disc.<ref name ="DTIFbooklet">John Pirozzi and LinDa Saphan, liner notes, ''Don't Think I've Forgotten'', soundtrack, 2015.</ref>
===Track listing=== Note: Blank entries below indicate unknown information. The song "There's Nothing to Be Ashamed Of" (track 8) by Pen Ran is also known as "Love Like Honey" on other compilation albums. Additional songs may have slightly different English titles in other compilations due to the difficulties of translation from their original Khmer titles. The song "Dying Under the Woman's Sword" (track 14) is credited on this soundtrack to Yol Aularong and Va Savoy, but on the ''Cambodian Rocks'' compilation it is credited to Aularong and Liev Tuk.
{|class="wikitable" |- !Number!! Title !! Performers(s) !! Writers(s) !! Year !! Duration |- |1||"Phnom Penh"||The Royal University of Fine Arts||Norodom Sihanouk||1967||3:33 |- |2||"Under the Sound of the Rain"||Sinn Sisamouth||Sinn Sisamouth|| ||3:03 |- |3||"The Story of My Love"||Chhuon Malay|| || ||3:10 |- |4||"Unique Child"||Huoy Meas|| || ||4:54 |- |5||"B.C.K."||Baksey Cham Krong||Mol Kagnol||1964||2:03 |- |6||"Don't Be Angry"||Ros Serey Sothea|| || ||3:20 |- |7||"Dance A Go Go"||Sinn Sisamouth||Sinn Sisamouth|| ||2:52 |- |8||"There's Nothing to Be Ashamed Of"||Pen Ran|| || ||3:01 |- |9||"Full Moon"||Baksey Cham Krong||Mol Samel||1963||3:05 |- |10||"Thevary My Love"||Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Serey Sothea|| ||1972||3:36 |- |11||"Heaven's Song"||Ros Serey Sothea||Mer Bun||1967||4:14 |- |12||"Navy A Go Go"||Sinn Sisamouth||Sinn Sisamouth|| ||2:48 |- |13||"Console Me"||Sieng Vannthy||Voy Ho||1974||3:27 |- |14||"Dying Under a Woman's Sword"||Yol Aularong and Va Savoy|| || ||2:11 |- |15||"Crazy Loving You"||Drakkar||Drakkar||1974||5:14 |- |16||"You've Got a Friend"||Pou Vannary||Carole King|| 1974||3:49 |- |17||"Cyclo"||Yol Aularong|| ||1974||4:36 |- |18||"Old Pot Still Cooks Good Rice"||Ros Serey Sothea|| || ||3:22 |- |19||"Don't Think I've Forgotten"||Sinn Sisamouth||Sinn Sisamouth||1974||3:30 |- |20||"Oh! Phnom Penh"||Cheam Chansovannary||Keo Chenda|| ||2:46 |}
==References== <references>
<ref name=nytimes>{{cite web|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/movies/dont-think-ive-forgotten-a-documentary-revives-cambodias-silenced-sounds.html|title='Don't Think I've Forgotten,' a Documentary, Revives Cambodia's Silenced Sounds|date=9 April 2015|last=Sisario|first=Ben|access-date=1 March 2017|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617142626/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/movies/dont-think-ive-forgotten-a-documentary-revives-cambodias-silenced-sounds.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name=columbusalive>{{cite web|work=Columbus Alive|url=http://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/05/28/film-preview-director-john-pirozzi-traces-the-history-of-early-cambodian-rock-n-roll-in-dont-think-ive-forgotten.html|title=Film preview: Director John Pirozzi traces the history of early Cambodian rock 'n' roll in "Don't Think I've Forgotten"|date=28 May 2015|last=Downing|first=Andy|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617142633/https://www.columbusalive.com/content/stories/2015/05/28/film-preview-director-john-pirozzi-traces-the-history-of-early-cambodian-rock-n-roll-in-dont-think-ive-forgotten.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name=bostonglobe>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2015/04/23/new-film-explores-cambodia-rock-scene/iqI1bT1rFXh4a0cMHslJaK/story.html|work=Boston Globe|last=Reed|first=James|date=23 April 2015|title='Don't Think I've Forgotten' explores Cambodia's rock scene|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812041739/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2015/04/23/new-film-explores-cambodia-rock-scene/iqI1bT1rFXh4a0cMHslJaK/story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <!-- UNUSED REFS TO BE INCORPORATED LATER <ref name=democracynow>{{cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2015/4/24/watch_dont_think_ive_forgotten_tells|work=Democracy Now!}}</ref> <ref name=latimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-dont-think-ive-forgotten-review-20150515-story.html#navtype=outfit|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> <ref name=avclub>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/review/dont-think-ive-forgotten-hauntingly-remembers-lost-218220|work=AV Club}}</ref> <ref name=sfgate>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/The-sad-demise-of-Cambodia-s-rock-scene-6248644.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> <ref name=washingtonpost>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/dont-think-ive-forgotten-review-the-day-the-music-died/2015/05/27/b470eb70-ffed-11e4-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html|work=The Washington Post}}</ref> <ref name=villagevoice>{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/film/dont-think-ive-forgotten-summons-up-a-rock-n-roll-beat-that-pol-pot-stamped-out-6444156|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614024814/http://www.villagevoice.com/film/dont-think-ive-forgotten-summons-up-a-rock-n-roll-beat-that-pol-pot-stamped-out-6444156|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2015|work=Village Voice}}</ref> <ref name=austin>{{cite web|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/2015-06-19/dont-think-i-ve-forgotten-cambodias-lost-rock-and-roll/|work=Austin Chronicle}}</ref> -->
</references>
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.dtifcambodia.com/}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes|dont_think_ive_forgotten_cambodias_lost_rock_and_roll_2014/}} * {{IMDb title|tt2634200}}
Category:Documentaries about music Category:2015 films Category:2014 documentary films Category:2014 films Category:American documentary films Category:Documentary films about Cambodia Category:Documentary films about the Cambodian genocide Category:Rockumentaries Category:Music of Cambodia Category:2014 American films