Monkey Dance

The Cambodian youth in the film, Monkey Dance, displays specific types of everyday forms of resistance that is unique to their personal life and particular circumstances. After the Khmer Rouge regime, many refugees were placed in low-income, blue collar town in which many fall prey to poverty and the qualities that exists alongside it such as gangs, violence, and an overall lack of resources and support. Samnang struggles to satisfy his family's goals in order to compensate for his older brothers' lack of success. However, he does this in the non-traditional way by excelling in gymnastics. He challenges the stereotypical notion that gymnastics is only for the white, male-bodied physique. Another youth, Linda, battles between making her dad proud by upholding traditional Khmer dance, but wanting to achieve her own personal goals. Traditional gender roles are constantly forced upon her, but she challenges this by wanting to do normal teenage activities like going out with friends and dating people. Last, Sochenda battles with the conflict of working multiple jobs to support his family and to support his own materialistic desires.

Being Khmer-American and growing up in a blue-collar town, I resonate with all of the narratives voiced by each of the youth. Many 2nd generation Cambodians are shadowed by their parent's struggles during the genocide and feel the need to compensate for their turmoil and loss. Coming to America, the youth are faced with consumerism and typical American values that are oppositional to Khmer values. The "monkey dance" was an attempt to bridge the gap between Khmer and American culture that links the youth to their parent's narratives. It's an effort to try and rebuild what was lost during the Khmer Rouge regime.