Staying Single When

"Staying Single When", released in Cambodia's main cinema The Kiriom in March/April 2007 and premiered on CTN, Cambodia's most popular TV channel, in October 2007, is a 100-minute romantic comedy from the production company Khmer Mekong Films (KMF).

It's the first of a series of quality feature films that KMF intends to make during the next three years.

In this movie, KMF pioneered the use of "real voices" rather than the Khmer practice of overdubbing every actor's spoken lines with Phnom Penh's stable of six voice-over performers, regardless of suitability of age and emotional performance.

"Staying Single When" has been subtitled with a high-quality English translation.

KMF will be placing the film in various international film festivals during 2008.

Plot synopsis

"“Sometimes what you seek is under your nose”"

At the launch party of Kep’s luxury Beach House Hotel, handsome manager Sarun also celebrates a milestone. He’s just earned a big pay rise for his achievements and can afford to get married.

Question is, who to?

Sarun’s career has left no time for a personal life. The closest females have been the waitresses at the hotel (not his type) and his efficient assistant manager Somalie (the boss’ daughter) whose arranged marriage to family friend, Neang, looms large.

So how’s he going to find a wife? He needs help!

Aunt Towen and Aunt Lye step in. They brought Sarun up after promising his mother on her deathbed they’d organise his life. At first they appear to have struck gold, when they introduce Sarun to a rich friend’s alluring daughter Rythika. Sarun is instantly struck and Rythika seems to respond. But she turns out to be a disaster, the first of a string of girls whose loveliness matches their unsuitability.

Sarun’s accident-prone friend Otdom, maintenance man at the hotel, considers himself to be an expert in marriage - he has two lovely wives of his own. With the aunts’ efforts backfiring, Otdom takes it upon himself to find the perfect wife for his friend, employing increasingly desperate measures along the way. None succeed.

When Sarun takes matters into his own hands, he is no more successful. Why is this simple task of finding a wife proving so difficult?.

Somalie watches from the sidelines, trying to help her colleague find happiness at the same time hiding misgivings about her own wedding. Bit by bit she falls in love with Sarun, but knows her father expects her to marry, Neang. For his part, whilst growing attracted to Somalie, Sarun never allows himself to think about loving her. He’s knows she’s unavailable.

Sarun meets Vanny who could not be more perfect for him. Somehow he just isn’t interested. What on earth is wrong with him? When the truth dawns, that he truly loves Somalie, he realises he has to get away from Kep before her wedding. If he doesn’t start a new life, his heart will simply break.

Are Sarun and Somalie destined to live apart forever? Or can their love find a way to triumph ...?

Main cast

*Meng Bunlo – SARUN
*Duch Sophea – SOMALIE
*Pov Kison – OTDOM
*Chhin Sotheary – RITHYKA
*Saray Sakana - VANNY
*Ol Samnang - NEANG
*Khem Bophavy - AUNT LYE
*Talong Kanaro - AUNT TOWEN

KMF's second movie - a contemporary thriller "Heart Talk" - is planned for release in October 2008.

External links

* [http://www.cambodiafilms.com Khmer Mekong Films]
* [http://www.cambodiafilms.com/staying_single_when.html "Staying Single When" movie]
* [http://www.cambodiafilms.com/heart_talk.html "Heart Talk" movie]