Cambodia's Other Lost City: French Colonial Phnom Penh

Cities are one of the most important sites of historical interaction in world history. Within the relatively confined space of the urban center social classes, ethno-religious groups, and competing political factions are forced to engage with each other producing unique cultural forms, systems, and processes. Colonial cities present some of the most dynamic examples of this phenomenon. Southeast Asia is home to a number of cities shaped by the history of colonialism with Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, providing an ideal case study for exploring the urban colonial encounter. This documentary examines the ways in which French colonial rule shaped Phnom Penh from the late 19th century to the 1930s. In particular, the film analyzes the relationship between architecture and imperial rule, arguing that the colonial city created a unique style specific to that distinct historical moment, all the while placing this historical transformation within the larger context of Cambodian history.
Gold Medal, 2014 International Movie Awards

[@compositionbook387]

I'm happy Dr. Vann survived the intro."Here lies Dr. Vann, hit by a Rav4 in Cambodia." This is a great documentary.

[@KhmerOldiesAficionado]

A very well made documentary, indeed. Thank you very much. Unfortunately, many young Cambodians are not interested in past history, and they would prefer tall boring skyscrapers over meaningful architectural past glories their ancestors has left them such as Vann Molyvann.

[@nico5173]

Very interesting , good job !!

[@JUSTENization]

I’m from chợ lớn Vietnam. Those French colonial structures are so beautiful, especially those mixed colonial-Asian homes and villas are gorgeously awesome.

[@saaem4045]

Thank you for this video 🙏🙏🙏❤️

[@maxlimyo]

great documentary, thanks for upload

[@Dymsensei]

Thanks

[@sclogse1]

Thanks for this, Jeffrey. Great work.

[@Dymsensei]

Thanks.

[@SecondLifeTravels1]

Wow, great video!!

[@MrHmjg]

i was there in march, 2020 and found little heritage preservation. did not venture into the old European district. great show!

[@nadel6952]

My last memory of leaving Saigon in '75 is the sun-bleached red tile roofs across the quarter where I used to live, now Saigon is sadly trying to be a modern, homogenous city anywhere in the world. Hanoi, as the capital city, has smartly preserved most of its colonial buildings and it has paid off handsomely. Western tourists love these sentimental, romantic ideas of imperialism and they are bringing hard currency not to Hanoi but to the rest of Vietnam because of its architecture and art history. PP should preserve some of these buildings because they are above all beautiful. It isn't about promoting the French culture, but it's for the Cambodian people to draw hard-earned currency and to distinguish itself from other regional cities like Singapore, Bangkok, and even Saigon...

[@fazbell]

Phnom Pehn is such a cool city. Only visited once but I will be back.

[@ehmsbaisas5707]

very informative sir.. I was amaze about this

[@Dymsensei]

Thanks

[@CambodiaNomadTips]

I really enjoyed your video.

[@Dymsensei]

Thanks

[@stevenobinator2229]

Great work mate.... I'll be moving there hopefully some of it is left

[@hengteng]

Great for showing that

[@jabezlim1393]

This is really interesting! :)

[@Dymsensei]

Thanks.

[@miekelisuk7610]

Awesome!

[@pavementpounder7502]

Nothing wrong with being nostalgic for past eras, for the great things about it, as long as you are mindful of those things you mention.

[@timmydownawell]

Regrettably, the adorable little two storey corner building at the end credits has now made way for apartments :( Great video, really enjoyed it. Thanks.

[@Dymsensei]

Thanks for watching. Phnom Penh has changed tremendously since we shot the film.

[@nemesis1761]

The palace at 0:39 was the former "Palais Norodom", located in Saïgon not in P. P.

[@phallyun5751]

Interesting

[@Nehrupry]

Mon Bo, It is better to be poor independently rather than to be under colony of any one. French were so cruel to Khmer people. My ancestor were forced to fight both world war and finally they fought againts French. War is not abour who is right and who is wrong. It is about who win and lose only.

[@amath-dr7uk]

the French were nowhere as Cruel as was the Khmer Rouge?

[@alinonymous]

Interesting, thanks. Not so sure the locals' idea of nation came anywhere close to the French one, which obviously served as underlying structure to the colonial city. The concept of nation is very western; transplanting it to Southeast Asia didn't go without saying. Was it ALL bad? I'm in no position to judge; perhaps the worst is yet to come. In Taiwan I've heard older people praise some of the achievements dating back to the (Japanese) colonial era. It takes wisdom to appreciate lessons learned the hard way.

[@theanyuch7917]

😍😍😍

[@warrengeorgeanthonychen9481]

Yo first thing where's the lane lines for the road at the start everything just drive without a mark. Check it

[@floriannewild8429]

Lane lines? Surely you jest. There is no rationality to driving in Phnom Penh.

[@Mia-xe9md]

That's a roundabout lol. So no marks

[@Thomas-Bradley]

Like most South East Asian cities, once the colonial powers are gone the city degenerates into chaotic mixture of old dilapidated colonial buildings and typical 20th century buildings which lacks any proper planning. Except Singapore, most of these cities are sadly losing its old heritage

[@ShameOnBadThai]

All those building are very old, the French investor should come to build a lot more new building when Cambodian developing their city.

[@chesdaart4974]

Sadly our heritage French building were destroyed during war, :( after pol pot some still remained and some totally collapsed

[@peterchung2262]

I think Phnom Penh would feel much better if it has some European elements left, to distinct it from cities like Bangkok or Hanoi which are more "modern"

[@Dymsensei]

Several of buildings in this film have been torn down.

[@user-sj4ej2vu7t]

2021 Like

[@nemesis4571]

Very fine analasys but why this stupid, vulgar, boring stereotypic and non-significant accordeon music at each picture of colonial Pnom-Penh ?

[@HAPHA]

May you know the history of colonial architecture like the government palace, today is CDC?

[@Dymsensei]

Dr. Vann would know.

[@kennydurkin]

Thanks. Great documentary. I've lived in PP for some years now. Love the colonial architecture, embarrassed by our colonial past. But let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.

[@Dymsensei]

Thanks.

[@zdwade]

Cuz the local commies did such a better job.

[@botramon]

i wish French was there until now. this way there would not be communist that destroy Cambodia to the stone age.

[@1Ronin187]

WOW... what is your logic behind your statement here? LOL The French were over 100 years and they built our ancestors one high school and that was it. They taught Vietnamese everything and even collected tax from Khmer to build schools and paved roads in Vietnam, not in Cambodia. The French brought the Vietnamese with them to built those buildings in Cambodia and our ancestors were slaves. They handed Kampuchea Krom to Vietnam and you wish for what??? LOL

[@botramon]

colonialism is not good for anybody but for me i see some benefit from French when they took back some of Khmer western provinces from Thai and set up a public education instead of realize only from the monks.

[@MrRedsjack]

1Ronin 187 so you prefer being under control of the Youn ? or maybe under Pol pot? during the French period Cambodia was better than Singapore, if the French staid in Cambodia until 1990 Cambodia would now be a very rich country like Japan. But now Cambodia powerful people are strongly influenced by Vietnamese and Chinese politics so it's is not really free.

[@botramon]

MrRedsjack i agree with your statement.

[@amath-dr7uk]

You have a point..

[@andrewharris1674]

The Khmer Empire fell in 1431 and colonialism began in 1864...there's 400 years in between there that's unaccounted for...or does being under Thai vassalage count as colonialism?

[@1Ronin187]

Got proof?

[@andrewharris1674]

I never said the Cambodian monarchy was UNDER Thai rule (Angkor/Siem Reap and Battambang were), just that they were vassals, an inferior kingdom to its more powerful neighbours paying tribute. The Cambodians built three capitals following the Khmer imperial migration down to the Mekong Delta area: Longvek, Srei Santhor, and Oudong. Longvek was sacked in 1594 by the Thais a few decades after the legendary king Ang Chan died, and Angkor fell into Thai hands from 1594 - 1907. The Vietnamese took control of the Mekong Delta in the early 17th century, cutting off Cambodia from lucrative maritime trade. Between the 17th - 19th centuries, Cambodian politics swayed between Thai and Vietnamese influence, i.e. vassalage to whichever side installed their own puppet rulers that served their interests. The French actually indirectly thwarted a plan by Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to divide Cambodia amongst the three of them, and made Cambodia a protectorate (as well as Laos and Vietnam). You're right - Oudong was the capital - but having been there it's obvious that Cambodia at Oudong was a sad echo of its former Angkorian glory. 1Ronin 187 reference the Burmese 1796 Glass Palace Chronicle for more proof.

[@ShameOnBadThai]

Andrew Harris you are 100% wrong, moron like you DO NOT try to make up fake story.After The Khmer Empire fell at Angkor city Cambodian king moved and build new city at Oudong, then Khmer kick Siam ass out of Angkor city and changed Angkor city name to Siem Reap , it mean defeat Siam.

[@andrewharris1674]

The Flat Defeat of Siam, of course - Ang Chan, Barom Rechea I, and "Sattha" left inscriptions at Angkor Wat, but it's well known that Angkor was lost to Cambodia following the sack of Longvek in 1594. However, it remained a pilgrimage site which is well-documented in Japanese maps and Arabic script from Malay travellers at Phnom Bahkeng.

[@ShameOnBadThai]

Myanmar colony Siam, then Siam people ran from Ayuthaya capital to build new capital city at Bangkok. it's took long time for Siam got help from Thai to liberate and changed Siam kingdom to Thailand kingdom.

[@mengphou2855]

Will lost forever

[@lauraschroeder8177]

I'd rather live under French rule than the Khmer Rouge's genocidal utopia!! Excellent movie: The Killing Fields.

[@ThePierre58]

An American talking about Colonial history?