ANGKOR IN DARKNESS

The story which is the subject for this film is based on a dramatic episode of Cambodia's History, in the (years) sixties.

It was about a plot fomented from the outside and in the Angkor- Siemreap-Kompong Thom region by the CIA, two South-East Asian governments tied to the "chariot" of Imperialism and General "Dap" Chhuon Mchulpich (the Governor and Commander of the Cambodian armed forces in charge of the defence of the Angkor-Siemreap-Kompong Thom region), all of then being very dissatisfied with the "neutralist" and anti-imperialist policy of Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Chief of State of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and, more particularly, with the rejection by Sihanouk, in 1963, of the conditional and humiliating U.S. aids.

The above-mentioned plot was aimed at making General MCHULPICH proclaim the "Khmer Republic" and the secession of the Angkor-Siemreap-Kompong Thorn region (i.e.its pulling away from the Kingdom of Cambodia).

The film "Ombre sur Angkor" (Angkor in Darkness) is relating this episode from the beginning of the plot to its final setback, a setback due to the Royal Khmer Army's faithfulness and loyalty to the Khmer Throne and Prince Sihanouk. (In parenthesis, this Army will, a few years later (precisely in March 1970) and at General Lon Nol's instigation, end in betraying the Khmer Kingdom and its Head of State).

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As far as the characters in the film are concerned, many of them are in accordance with their historic "models” (nevertheless, the movie star who acts Mchulpich's role is handsome and elegant while the true MCHULPICH was ugly-looking). A few other characters, on the other hand, are imaginary (for instance, the character of the very beautiful and innocent Lady-Ambassador of an unnamed country, a role acted by HRH Princess  MONIQUE SIHANOUK).

The few imaginary characters in the film were of use to avoid unnecessary diplomatic "complications" with some foreign powers which, in the (years) sixties, had still Embassies or diplomats in the Royal Capital, Phnom Penh. On the other hand, those imaginary characters ("personnages fictifs", in French) gave the film some artistic attractiveness, aesthetic quality and ... romance. Otherwise, the CIA-MCHULPICH plot would be  just a very unpleasant story.