Cinema & International Film Festival: ‘Stay Alive, My Son’, an exploration of the Cambodian genocide through the prism of virtual reality

‘Stay Alive, My Son’, presented at the 14th Cambodia International Film Festival, is a powerful and immersive virtual reality experience by Victoria Bousis, taking viewers back in time to the Khmer Rouge.

Originally entitled Tu Vivras, Mon Fils, the film is based on the memoirs of Pin Yathay, a Cambodian engineer who survived the Khmer Rouge regime. The plot follows a father's desperate search for his lost son, and explores themes of family separation, survival and the enduring power of love.

The story follows Yathay Pin, who is forced to abandon his six-year-old son to ensure their survival during the Cambodian genocide. Decades later, haunted by this decision, wracked by guilt and driven by hope, Yathay sets out to find his son.

Creative approach

The director uses cutting-edge virtual reality technology to transport viewers into Yathay's world, combining cinematic storytelling with the immersive qualities of virtual reality. The cast includes actress Élodie Yung, whose family history is also linked to the Cambodian genocide.

In addition, the film is not just a historical account, but also a personal quest to raise awareness of the generational impact of armed conflict and family separation. This educational approach encourages viewers to reflect on these tragic events and the importance of preserving family unity.

Reception of the film

When it was presented at Venice Immersive, the film attracted attention for its innovative use of virtual reality (VR), a pioneering approach to storytelling that places the work at the forefront of immersive media. This technology offers a unique experience that challenges traditional narrative structures.

This immersion creates an emotional connection that cannot be compared to any other experience. In effect, VR allows the audience to enter the world of the protagonist, Yathay Pin, and directly experience his anguish and hope.

At the heart of the action

By placing the viewer at the centre of the action, VR amplifies empathy and emotional resonance, giving them the impression that they are experiencing the character's struggles rather than passively observing them. This deep immersion probably promotes a much stronger emotional impact than traditional films.

By breaking with the linear narrative of conventional cinema, VR offers a spatial narrative in which the environment itself becomes a narrative element. Viewers can explore scenes from several angles, discovering details that enrich their understanding of the story.

Immersive environment

The film uses virtual reality (VR) to create a 360-degree space that can be fully explored, reproducing authentic sensory experiences such as sight and hearing.

This degree of realism plunges viewers into the world of Cambodia in the 1970s under the Khmer Rouge regime, giving them the sensation of being physically present in the sets.

Empathy through presence

VR cinema is often described as a tool for creating empathy, and Stay Alive, My Son takes advantage of this by breaking down one dimension. Viewers are not passive spectators, but active participants in Yathay's journey, intensifying their connection with his story and decisions.

VR, as a non-linear and interactive medium, allows us to create experiences where the viewer's attention or gaze can subtly influence the plot or narrative depth.

By combining cutting-edge VR technology with a deeply human story, Stay Alive, My Son transforms traditional cinematic techniques into an emotionally-charged immersive experience that is sure to resonate long after viewing.

Festival Programme