Becoming Human
Singapore Premiere
Polen Ly Cambodia 2025 99 min PG
The guardian spirit of a cinema that is about to be demolished becomes friends with a human as she faces the prospect of rebirth.
In Battambang, Cambodia, an ageing cinema is scheduled for demolition. Hai, a local journalist, sneaks in to say goodbye, only to encounter the guardian spirit of the theatre, Thida. As the two begin to spend hours in conversation, they forge a deep bond, each being a victim of abandonment caused by a nation chasing development and change. Their friendship turns into an exploration of grief and the fragility of loss, as Thida is assigned to be reborn, and Hai accepts the loss of his home due to encroaching mining operations. Becoming Human is a tender story that moves through transient spaces and offers compassion as an answer to finding resilience to move forward.
Synopsis Writer: Saksham Mehrotra
Q&A with Filmmaker(s)
1 Dec, Mon 9:00PM / 99 min
Golden Village Suntec, Hall 1
AT THE FEST!
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RUSH QUEUE:
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Becoming Human
ជាតិជាមនុស្សា
Polen Ly
Cambodia
2025
Khmer
English
99 min
PG
Singapore Premiere
Polen Ly
Polen Ly’s work focuses on indigenous rights and environmental issues in Cambodia. His debut documentary feature, Until the Orchid Blooms (2024) had its Asian premiere at the 35th SGIFF. Becoming Human, his debut fiction film, received support through the Biennale College Cinema program and premiered at Venice.
Savorn Serak,
Piseth Chhun
Daniel Mattes
