Cambodia | Prince Sihanouk | This Week | 1969 

This was probably the most amazing yet haunting film I’ve ever seen. Knowing that they prepared so much for an attack from the outside, not knowing the outside would be attacking from within. Seeing all those people with smiles on their faces just a few years later would be traumatized or die from the most heinous civil war and atrocities in human history. It’s so sad to think that could have been my grandfather or grandmother in the background of this video. But I wouldn’t know because only 2 of my grandparents survived past 1979. And the ones that are still alive don’t talk about the past. It’s too hard. But in this video I see hope in their eyes. Those people. Those soldiers. Those kids. That all wanted to protect the Khmer way of life. We are a empathetic, rich and beautiful people. Abundant in tradition, humility and strength. Against all the odds we still here. Our people have been through hell and back. The Cambodian people and so many others like us, are a true testament to the resilience of the human spirit. We may try to destroy one another, but when it comes down to it we are all people cut from the same cloth. We all want to live doing what we love doing with the people we love. We may be a small community, but are ideals and values are universal. Be strong, because even if the worst happens it will be okay. Can’t wait to share this with my family.

This is heartbreaking. Lee Kuan Yew said that the Prince Sihanouk was a congenial and humorous man before the Khmer Rouge, and after it he was a shattered man. Never has such a tragic thing befallen so gentle a people. Thank you for this interesting insight into Cambodia before tragedy befell it.

While seeing his face and the style he talking, my tear dropped down and I can say I miss him so much!

People from the past look so different from now. Their personality, looks, lifestyle and many more. I love old Cambodian!

Unfortunate famous last words: "And short of war, there is small sign that the civilisation will be disturbed." I am glad after all those horrific decades, Cambodia is doing well again.

Fascinating. Sihanouk was one of the shrewdest politicians of the 20th century. Sadly, his country was swept by forces beyond even his control. His documentary movies of Cambodia pre the KR are heartbreaking. They were shown regularly on TV after his death and form a tragic record of what might have been. This contemporary footage of Cambodia in 1969 was truly interesting to watch.

When I think about how many in this report were perished during and after the conflict, my heart is just torn down... RIP for those who lost their lives.

I lived in Cambodia 2002-2017. This is a very interesting film. Sihanouk managed to live throughout a whole era of turbulence, wars and into the recovery from the Khmer Rouge disaster.

As a Cambodian young generation....I proudly to say "I will protect my country in every situations"

What a beautiful era, my grandfather always say that he really missed the 1960s.

Thanks for sharing the great documents

I lived in Cambodia for many years. I love the Cambodian people and their nature. My heart will always be in Cambodia. 🇰🇭

Cambodians were so very new to modern ideologies during that time. We trusted more on others but not ourselves. According to Sisowath Siri Matak’s last letter, Cambodia, under Lon Nol and Sirimatak himself, was so wrong to trust America. If there is no external involvement, people wouldn’t be suffered. As a young generation of Cambodian people, we will rise once again as long as we are united. I pray his majesty soul to Rest In Eternal Peace. Your dedication to the country will never be vanished, and you will be remembered in our heart as the strongest King of Modern Cambodia’s Golden Era. Long live the King! ជយោ! សម្ដេចតា បីតាជាតិខ្មែរ ព្រះនរោត្តមសីហនុ!

This such a great documentary for our younger generation! Thank for sharing this!

The world changes, people change, life changes, beauty changes but "love" has never changed. Cambodian people are still lovely people. No matter what, how, who, why.... we still love each other. We wish to share love to the world. Fool to those who tried to kill Cambodians, Fool to those who tried to destroy Cambodia. God is fair, God is faithful, God is balanced. Cambodians are still alive. We are now fighting the new war of some invasions from the outside!

What a precious documentary!

2020​ who watched? មានអ្នកមេីល​ 2020?

I wonder how many of those students gathered there @16:45, including those students interviewed, died during the Khmer Rouge years. That particular group of students appeared to be from the educated class.

What an awesome doco of pre Khmer Rouge Cambodia. Sihanouk comes across as very charming.

my parents lived through this time, oh how optimistic they must’ve been to live in a country that provided just enough, now there are hardly crumbs for the people of Cambodia to fight over. Long live Kampuchea. 🇰🇭

Thank you so much for sharing I wont forget

What a fabulous people, culture and royalty. As an monarchist and loyal officer of the Royal Australian Army, I deeply wished the crown would further their efforts to reach to the people and rally public support. Respect Cambodia

Whether we like it or not, geography, destiny, .... have made the fate of people in Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam into 1; that is, if any of those 3 countries is troubled, unstable, war-ravaged, ...., then the rest would go the same way: troubled, unstable, war-ravaged. # It's ONLY WHEN ALL THREE COUNTRIES are stable, peaceful, prosperous, then the people in those 3 countries could enjoy peace, stability and prosperity. # Thus, the people in those 3 countries must safeguard their peace, stable environment, prosperity TOGETHER, UNITED.

Thx u so much for sharing the video 👍✌🙂

Wow! It's so nice for me to see this video with interviews of King Sihanouk. He looks like he had a very pure heart. Altogether, I've lived in Cambodia for almost 5 years. I do still meet many people here who have pure, authentic hearts and characters.

I am so lucky that I can watch this good video.

My Dad was lost during this time, i were poor boy after pol pot but through this difficult life. I try to make my life is better and have small Library which collect many document of history that you can come for reading.

Good documentary insight on King Sihanouk before the Khmer Rouge and greater external powers over came Cambodia. His style and the way his people adore him is similar to King Bhumibol of Thailand.

I moved to America when I was 13 and always wondered what the royal family does and this document really made me understand why we love the King. Amazing documents.

what a fantastic video about the old day of Cambodia.

I love Cambodia 🇰🇭❤❤

So grateful to be able to see Cambodia in all of its glory before its horrific nightmare in 1975. Sihanouk... Our great king 👑

our late king father was very very gracious, i personally really like the way he talk, it’s like he take us back to centuries ago because no one really talk like the way he did anymore. we miss you your majesty ❤️

Good very good video 👍👍👍 👍

do you have the film or the video clip the same this video, i am so interesting with this video,

At 17:00 Those students had a really good education. Aside from their accent, they are well articulated. Can't say it's like that today, not even for the Cambodian-Americans.

Also, what a well spoken king!

Love doc. Thank

I’m so sorry that the US supported Lon Nol to remove this guy. I’m not Khmer, but I can tell by looking at his eyes that Sihanouk is a very kind and happy man. I went to Cambodia this summer and I was very sad to see what the Khmer Rouge and the US did to Cambodia. However, Cambodia will rise again!

Rest in peace my king we will always remember you. 2019 comment

He was a great king who led Cambodia through many wars but wasn't prepare for US backed government which over threw him then left him when Pol Pot took over. Luckily he lived. Some of his family perished.

When the surroundings can leave Cambodia in peace, so they can focus to create something great again for humanity. So far, this sorrowful bright nation has just been trying to survive from one cause to another. May strength be upon the good and innocent hearts out there. ❤️🕊️

the reference to the chief of monks, is to Samdech Chuon Nath who died in September 1969. so this doco was made just months before the country was engulfed by war.

16:30 "This amateur but enthusiastic force may never need to fight." Sadly everyone including children were conscripted to fight just 6 years later

Tears of joys and hurtful at the same time

I did see the king when I was kid I'm now sixty four so handsome great king missing everything

Wish everyone view again the bloody and chaotic, hellish scenes everywhere in Cambodia's pre-1975, due to American bombing and overthrowing of Norodom Sihanouk (America's "side show"). Then view again the Pol Pot's years with deserted cities, forced march, execution fields, Tuol Sleng's photos of children, women and men, with their terrified eyes, waiting to be tortured and executed. # Then view the scenes of today's Cambodia BURSTING WITH LIFE. # Then pause a little and honestly, impartially ask: "Thanks to whom for this revival?"

16:41 it's sad to imagine that those students probably didn't survive the Khmer rouge regime since they were intellectuals, spoke another language, and the first student even wore glasses

We really really miss him 😥

Cambodia 1950s-1960s so beautiful with only 6 million people. Strong culture, religion, and society. Hun Sen era so terrible. 35 years under Hun Sen, Cambodia at the bottom of everything.

Sihanouk, a man of artistic eloquence is one of the characters who contributed greatly to the disaster that came to the Khmer people. A man who can change his tongue at any time to maintain his status. But the people are all the sufferers.

This is so sad, to see what my homeland was once was, before the atrocities. May Kampuchea rise again.

love Cambodia love the people been there 64 times. go u won't be disappointed

I'd like this regime so much and i liked my prince Norodom Sihanouk even I am a young generation but I saw the policy, people respect each other, independent, situation living was hight compared with the neighbors.

I wish Cambodia will come back stronger! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

"How long can it be now before destruction and death move along the Mekong River and overwhelm this enchanted land." It wasn't very long at all which makes this film all the more poignant. Indeed it wasn't even an "enchanted land" at the time this film was shot given that the North Vietnamese had already annexed the eastern part of Cambodia adjacent to the border with South Vietnam, where they had established sanctuaries and supply lines that the Americans were secretly and relentlessly bombing. Just months later in April 1970, the pressure cooker finally blew when Sihanouk was overthrown in a pro American coup led by Lon Nol and Cambodia did indeed become engulfed by both the Vietnam War and a ghastly civil war of its own. But ultimately the worst thing to happen to Cambodia was not the external invasion talked about in this film but the internal rise to power of the Khmer Rouge and that might never have happened if the charismatic, popular Sihanouk (as depicted so vividly but far too uncritically in this film) had not sided with the Pol Pot after being overthrown by Lon Nol. I too doubt that the beautiful, intelligent, well educated teenagers interviewed in this film survived the Khmer Rouge terror. That is the saddest aspect of this film and the most bitter irony is the fact their deaths were largely attributable to the man they were worshipping here back in 1969.

i am very proud of you កូនខ្មែរ, i love so much

ពេលបានឃើញវីដេអូ មានអារម្មណ៍ថាសប្បាយចិត្តខ្លាំងណាស់ ស្តាយដែលកើតមិនទាន់សម័យកាលនោះ

I miss my king 👑 ❤️🙏🏼

HM Norodom Sihanouk are great leader.. during his period 1953 - 1970 Cambodia among fastest growing nation. If Sihanouk still in office until today Cambodia will be far develop potentially most prosper in south east Asia region. He has clear wisdom and brilliant mind. The previous war conflict between American and North Vietnam / Soviet, he did wisely chosen North Vietnam. He is no communist side but neutralist. Even local communist was not given chance to disrupt Cambodian peace and stability. During his power communist was no place in Cambodia. Why he choose North Vietnam? Because he knew North Vietnam and Soviet will won this conflict. Proven 5 years from 1970 (lon nol regime begin) at 1975 North Vietnam won this war. As Sihanouk still in power, he could demand Hanoi leadership to reclaim lost Cambodian old empire koh tral and land from khmer krom to Cambodia as a good cooperation for supporting Hanoi during previous war. Today even Cambodia recover but still left behind and far away if compare during Sihanouk period. Agree as pol pot devastating nation completely destroy until so called year zero, but despite of this cause should all realize of khmer rouge not strong if opportunity not come. Should blamed Lon Nol and Prince Srimatak as their power hunger cause opportunity for Khmer rouge to enlarge their power. If all Cambodian and Khmers united on 1 great leadership Cambodian will not damaged worst until today. I believe if coup 18 march 1970 not happened, Cambodia will different on today. With excellent leadership HM Norodom Sihanouk still in power Cambodia will be successful nation developing strong economic and rich of art and culture.

I love this time

I proud of Cambodia 🇰🇭

When I was kid I really want to meet him one day but in 2012 he past away :((

I can't believe that I can see something like this

I miss him so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

ទាហ៊ានសម័យនោះអង់អាចក្លាហាន ខ្ញុំមានមោនភាពខ្លាំងណាស់ និយាយភាសាបរទេសឡូយណាស់ ។ សិល្បៈចំរៀង ភាពយន្ត ក៏ល្អឥតខ្ចោះ តែគួរអោយស្តាយដោយសារសង្គ្រាមបរទេសឈ្លានពាន ធ្វើអោយប្រទេសខ្ទេចខ្ទីគ្មានសល់

i love cambodia people's i love history.... love from malaysia.

Long Live the King. I lived and went to school in Cambodia at the time. I missed it so much

I miss the old kind of me and my people

17:15 broke my heart when she said that their prince would protect them the best he can, and that the Cambodian people would do their part too. Also, this is totally unrelated, but Sihanook has a lot of parallels with Chiang Kai-shek, in the roles they played in their countries' communist takeovers.

This is a nice video but still on it to make my country to meet a war

We know this is a very guy he love his people so much.

I really miss him. My king Norodom Sihanouk ♥️

ចង់ដឹងថាបទចម្រៀងច្រៀងហ្នឹងឈ្មោះអី?

If all of our leaders were like that we’d have peace on Earth

i miss My king so much 😥💜

Vua sihanouk là người có học nói tiêng anh ok. Người rất tốt với dân và sư sãi. Người có tâm với đất nước và quốc tế rất được lòng dân

0:31 what a pretty song. Such pretty voices

5 years later....the dark time beginning...for Cambodia

My poorly country! I always love you! I'll be with you forever!😍❤️🇰🇭❤️💕

2020 now ❤️

Back when Cambodia was a prosperous nation, developed nation, hard working nation, happy nation, civilized nation.etc. So heartbreaking to see all of that came to nothingness because of war…😔

ព្រះបិតា​ជាតិ គួរឲ្យ​គោរព​គួរឲ្យ​ស្រលាញ់​ខ្លាំងណាស់​។​ ជាទីស្រឡាញ់​របស់​កូនខ្មែរ​គ្រប់​រូប។​នឹក​ទ្រង់ខ្លាំងណាស់

It is very unfortunate and heart-broken that our neighbour did not and does not share our peaceful and peace loving nature.

Hmm, I truly like him very much, but it's hard to love him if you live through Pol Pot

Golden age of Cambodia, long live the king ...

I miss him so much

This is not a movie or just a film we pasted it without knowing tomorrow

🥰🥰🥰

Love my country!

May God bless my former country--- the story of the wear and many sadness had caused to Cambodian and also -have left me no parents, and no close love from my family at one time I used to have.

🙏🙏🙏🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭⚘⚘⚘ ខ្ញុំបាទជាកូនខ្មែរជាតិខ្មែរស្រឡាញ់ ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ខ្ញុំបាទ Yes, I am a Khmer child, I wish the nation prosperity forever, success in the Khmer nation.

I was born in Cambodia, I love Cambodia ...

Watch 12:53 onward, he's a very smart and very pragmatic person and his prediction all correct and come true.

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

នឹកព្រះអង្គណាស់❤️🌹

This is heartbreaking. Can't watch.

This was shortly after Thames went to colour.

These people had no idea the hell that was to await them in 10 years.

Just hearing that title music . at the end... brings back memories. What a fascinating documentary.