The Red Sense

{{Infobox film | name = The Red Sense | image = Redsense.jpg | caption = One of eight theatrical posters | director = Pek Tim | producer = Pek Tim | writer = Rithy Dourg<br/>Pek Tim | starring = Sarina Luy<br/>Kaply Mon | music = Robert John Sky | cinematography = | editing = | distributor = Transparent Pictures | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2008|08|03|Australia}} | runtime = 80 minutes | country = Cambodia<br/>Australia | language = Khmer<br/>English | budget = }} {{Contains special characters|Khmer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

'''''The Red Sense''''' ({{langx|km|វិញ្ញាណក្រហម|Vĭnhnhéan Krâhâm}}) is a 2006 Khmer-Australian supernatural thriller film. It was director Tim Pek's debut film and was produced by Transparent Pictures. The success of ''The Red Sense'' led Transparent Pictures to produce films such as ''Bokator'' and ''Annoyed''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://naraths.wordpress.com/2007/07/01/%e1%9e%9a%e1%9f%89%e1%9f%85%e1%9e%86%e1%9e%b6%e1%9e%93/#respond|title=រ៉ៅឆាន |accessdate=2008-12-11|publisher=Naraths}}</ref> ''The Red Sense'' was first released in Australia in August 2008, and though banned for general release there, screened in Cambodia in December that year. It is rated M (Recommended for mature audiences) by the Office of Film and Literature Classification of Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theredsensemovie.com|title=Now Showing |accessdate=2008-12-11|publisher=The Red Sense}}</ref>

==Plot== {{more plot|date=April 2017}} The film is a mystery story set in Cambodia in the Khmer Rouge era.

==Cast== * Rithy Dourng * Niki Davis * Narith Eng * Sarina Luy * Kaply Mon * Vicheth Muy * Paly Net

==Production== In 2004 Khmer graphic designer Tim Pek took a small role for a short film called Chhay. The film was about two brothers and focused on the pre- and post-Khmer Rouge era. Exposed for the first time to how films were produced, Tim started to contemplate various ways to improve the concepts of film making.

A few months later, Tim received a Cambodian Fashion Show video from Adelaide with an extra feature of a five minutes short film, directed by Chhai Thach. This film, entitled "Bugger!", was made in New Zealand and had won the best short film award. Impressed with the simple story, Tim got in contact with Chhai and discussed the making of a new short film as a team. A month later, Chhai came up with another mystery story, also set during the Khmer Rouge era. After some discussion, both Tim and Chhai agreed to make three parts of the story. Tim managed to produce a script within a few weeks for a 15-minute short film intended for entry into film festivals.

The film project was created in early 2005 and became ''The Red Sense'', or ''Vignean Krohom'' in Khmer. Pek said of the film: "I had the opportunity to work with various non-actors which I thought would be a terrific opportunity as a director. The casts and crews are very supportive, which continues to keep my spirit high".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://naraths.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/the-red-sense-movie/|title=The Red Sense Movie |accessdate=2009-01-25|publisher=Naraths}}</ref>

==Release== ===Premier=== Audiences were given a preview of the film in Adelaide, Australia. Its official release, however, was in Melbourne on 3 August 2008, with special guest Mr Yuhorn Chea, the former mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong. There were also interviews with several media outlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theredsensemovie.com/newsupdate.htm|title=THE RED SENSE'S SCREENING ADELAIDE 04.05.2008 |accessdate=2009-01-25|publisher=The Red Sense}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theredsensemovie.com/newsupdate.htm|title=THE RED SENSE'S WORLD PREMIERE Melbourne 08.03.08 |accessdate=2009-01-25|publisher=The Red Sense}}</ref>

The film was banned for release in Cambodia as the Cambodian Government does not allow films pertaining to the Khmer Rouge. This has become an issue among the film's fans: "''I really want to watch the Red Sense. I have heard of it for a long time, and I have watched the trailer. It seems interesting. Some people told me that it's not the same as other Khmer Rouge movies, filmed in the past.''" said a Khmer monk now living abroad, while a foreigner working in the Khmer film industry said, "''It’s a shame that Tim can’t get the film screened over here, but then this is the country where the Khmer Rouge period has been erased from school text books.''"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kwriter.wordpress.com/2008/05/16/cambodian-government-says-no-to-khmer-rouge-movie/|title=Cambodian Government Says No to Khmer Rouge Movie |accessdate=2009-01-25|publisher=Antonio Graceffo}}</ref>

Despite its being banned, the film was screened in Siem Reap during the second Cambofest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://naraths.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/red-sense-movie-at-siem-reap/|title=វិញ្ញាណក្រហមនៅសៀមរាប |accessdate=2009-01-25|publisher=Naraths}}</ref>

==Reception== In Angkorian Society, Hemara In said, "''Tim Pek's film is very promising. He has been through the Pol Pot, Khmer Rouge and understands how this effect him, very proud of Tim Pek and a great Cambodian community here will support him and would like to wish Tim Pek a great future''" (sic) while two critics of Anonymous, Chris & Margot, stated that "''The emotionals were there and come from the heart. It deserves all the praise that it gets''" Says Chris."'' The Khmer Rouge result was some consequences and I congratulate Tim Pek on The Red Sense''." Says Margot. Clayton MP, Mr. Hong Lim also described the film to positive reviews. He said: "''The way he approaches the film is very opportunistic, the way that Tim portrays comes straight from the human heart. These story brings out the Khmer Rouge quite well, the way he put in with the past and present. All Cambodian communities should be very proud of this film''".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theredsensemovie.com/testimonial.htm|title=TESTIMONIALS |accessdate=2009-01-25|publisher=The Red Sense}}</ref>

In the Adelaide premier, the film also received A reviews. A film critic, Paul Millson, said: "''Many people were very happy that Tim made a film for the thousands of family members that want this story to be told and shown all around the world for all to see''".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theredsensemovie.com/newsupdate.htm|title=Review on the Adelaide Screening the 8th of May 2008. |accessdate=2009-01-25|publisher=The Red Sense}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations=== As well as these reviews, the film received awards at CamboFest film and video festival in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was named the Golden Buffalo winner as the best local film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://naraths.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/cambodian-film-fest-honors-wolf/|title=Cambodian film fest honors "Wolf" |accessdate=2009-01-25|publisher=Naraths}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.theredsensemovie.com}} * {{IMDb title|1482253|The Red Sense}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Red Sense, The}} Category:2008 films Category:2000s Khmer-language films Category:2008 English-language films Category:2000s horror thriller films Category:2008 horror films Category:2008 multilingual films Category:Cambodian horror films Category:Australian horror thriller films Category:Cambodian multilingual films Category:Australian multilingual films Category:English-language horror thriller films