REVIEWS
"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."
–New York Times - A.O. Scott (NYT Critics' Pick)
"As expressionistic as it is journalistic, Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten triumphs as both an objective record and a poetic lament: It’s a film that’s every bit as entrancing and haunting as the lost music it celebrates."
–A.V. CLUB (rating: A-)
"A rich patchwork tapestry of powerful and ebullient music."
–Village Voice (Critics' Pick)
"That the documentary exists at all is a triumph."
"A fervent cry for the power of music."
"Riveting. At once exotic and familiar, intoxicating and revelatory."
"Eye-opening and moving."
–Chicago Reader
"Sometimes a music documentary reaches a state of transcendence. John Pirozzi’s new film Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll is that kind of movie."
"Resurrects and revives this ghost music, breathing life into it once again."
"The music, the stuff of cultish collectors for decades, is thrilling."
"More than a music documentary."
–Spectrum Culture
"Very good and moving. Deserves the widest possible audience."
"Heartbreaking. A tough but uplifting reminder that no matter what awful things humans do to each other, art survives."
"If Don't Think I've Forgotten is any indication, this Southeast Asian country has a lot of soul."
"A poignant and important reminder that art matters."
"A musical restoration of the country's history, a celebration of art, and an homage to those who paid for it with their lives."
"Both celebration and eulogy...an irresistible documentary exploration of the wonderfully lush and occasionally psychedelic popular music produced in Cambodia."
"Beautiful, atmospheric and most of all lively."
"There is a universal appeal."
"What a bold feat of a film this is! If you love music...then you need to see this film."
"Striking work."
"A brilliant cultural excavation, connecting survivors' memories to a generation's worth of energetic music."
"Infectious music. Shattering."
"Carries with it a sense of discovery so profound it’s practically archaeological."
"Engaging and detailed. A kind of cultural restoration project."
"This story needs to be told, and this music needs to be heard."
"Makes the whole period come alive."
"The sheer range of music on offer is astonishing."
"A huge revelation for the music history books...Provides a completely refreshing new perspective."
"A poetic remembering of a culture lost during war. Serves as an ode to gentle, loving people who suffered terribly, but somehow have kept their spirit."
"Stunningly told and peerlessly edited. Lush with gorgeous sights and sounds."
"A celebration of music's resilient, lingering power."
"A fascinating, beautifully realized story that urgently needs telling."
"A labor of love that shines the spotlight on performers who made great music and whose legacy was almost erased."
"Mesmerizing."
"Crucial. A testament to human resilience."
"Any admirer of historic footage will love the jewels to be found in this film."
"Cambodia's music scene had plenty to offer."
"Employs clever animation and colorful sequences to capture the energy of the rock scene."
"Reminds us of music's essential role as cultural unifier."
"This film does a great job capturing this little known gem of history."
INTERVIEWS AND MEDIA
"Fitting into a niche of heart-stirring music documentaries like 'Searching for Sugar Man' and '20 Feet From Stardom."
–New York Times feature. Written by Ben Sisario
Video Review
"Personal and detailed. This project was an extensive undertaking."
–VICE
"Remarkable. The footage is a revelation."
"The country’s music scene was special—a vital force in a rapidly changing nation."
"The sound is thrillingly new for American audiences."
"Revives a lost art. Bracing."
"Paints a picture of...Phnom Penh as a vibrant city teeming with garage bands and rebellious rockers."
"Patches together the vibrant, fraught history of the Cambodian rock and roll scene."
"A spellbinding survey of Cambodia’s lost era of psychedelia-infused lounge rock and roll. A high watermark of investigative journalism."
"Insightful. Compelling."
"A real crowd-pleaser."
–San Francisco Chronicle feature
“Goes beyond the sounds themselves to weave an emotional tale of how important music is to a society."
"Does the world a service in documenting the era."
"You can’t help but marvel at the power of (music) to sustain itself through the people who made it, and those who love it."
"Part historical document, part celebration of a nearly lost form."
"Wonderful trove of well-edited archival footage."
"Expertly weaves Cambodian history and political strife through the lens of rock and roll."
"An essential document for anyone with an interest in the history of popular music from around the world."
–Creative Loafing
All Things Considered
–NPR
The Leonard Lopate Show
–WNYC
Newshour
WorldBrief
Sound Advice
–-NY1
Tom Schnabel's Rhythm Planet
–KCRW
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
–KCRW
Bodega Pop Live with Gary Sullivan
–WFMU
Worldview
–WBEZ
Art Uncovered
Off Ramp
–KPCC
–WABE
Hannah Dunphy interviews Dr. LinDa Saphan
–International Center for Transitional Justice