Is there a particular documentary film or filmmaker that had a major influence on your career?
Our film was co-directed, the following are the answers of the 2 filmmakers. Thomas Cristofoletti: Sugarcane (2024)- Robin Narciso: “The Act of Killing (2012)”
What motivated you to make this film?
With Strangled, we set out to explore a pressing issue: the microfinance debt crisis in Cambodia. This is a story not just about statistics but about people—families—whose lives have been upended by a system that was designed to lift them out of poverty.
For years, microfinance has been championed as a tool for empowerment and economic growth, yet the reality we encountered on the ground was starkly different. We met families torn apart by debt, individuals forced into migration, and communities struggling under the weight of impossible repayments. These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a systemic problem that demands attention and action.
Please tell us what camera(s) you shot with primarily – and any other special equipment that you used and why you used it.
Sony FX 6 and Sony A7siii
Please tell us about any special styles or techniques that you used during the production of your film to help tell your story.
For Strangled, we employed a blend of cinema vérité and carefully crafted re-enactments to bring the story to life. Cinema vérité allowed us to capture raw, unfiltered moments as they naturally unfolded, immersing viewers in the daily struggles and resilience of the individuals affected by the microfinance debt crisis. This observational approach provided an authentic and immediate connection to the real-life experiences of our subjects.
To complement this, we used re-enactments to depict events from the past, bringing to life the memories and testimonies of our characters. This approach allowed us to visually reconstruct pivotal moments that shaped their journeys, ensuring these stories were conveyed with emotional depth and clarity.
How did your story evolve from day one, to the very last day in post? Is your story what you thought it would be?
The evolution of our story was a blend of the anticipated and the unexpected. From the outset, certain parts of the narrative unfolded as we had envisioned. These were events that had already occurred in our characters’ lives, which we re-enacted to bring their experiences to life.
However, the story’s trajectory took unpredictable turns, particularly as we followed our characters in real time. The ending, in which they discovered some semblance of a solution to their struggles, was something we could not have foreseen. Alongside these resolutions came new challenges, adding layers of complexity to their journeys. This unfolding reality underscored the dynamic nature of their lives and the evolving impact of the microfinance debt crisis.
Please describe the most rewarding experience you had while making this film.
The three families gradually gaining trust in us and opening up about their personal and often traumatic experiences.
What advice can you give to other impact filmmakers?
Our advice would be to connect with local NGOs already working on the issue you plan to document in pre-production, and build a relationship with them through-out your project. They were an incredible asset to us both in terms of information, but also in terms of safeguarding our characters.
What’s your favorite part about the filmmaking process and why?
Scouting and getting to know our characters was beautiful. We had researched the topic during pre-production, but meeting them in person made the problem of micro-finance indebtedness much more vivid and urgent.
What’s the one item you always take with you when working out in the field and why?
A suggestion when working with characters that are struggling is to bring in-kind donations which are always appreciated.
Please share a personal story about your experience making this film.
Meeting the children of Veasna, as well as her extended family in the province, was a truly positive experience—one that brought lightness and warmth to an otherwise challenging shoot. We hope to have captured some of their “cheekiness” and love in the film, which serves as a testament to how humans can still find moments of happiness even in very difficult circumstances.
What do you want audiences to take away from your film?
We hope that audiences walk away from Strangled with a deeper understanding of the complex realities surrounding microfinance and its impact on vulnerable communities in Cambodia. For too long, microfinance has been celebrated as a universally positive tool for poverty alleviation. While it has provided opportunities for some, this film highlights the darker, often overlooked consequences of an unregulated microfinance system. Cambodia serves as a stark example of how unchecked lending practices can harm the very people they aim to help, leading to devastating outcomes like forced migration, family separations, and even suicide.
Ultimately, we want audiences to question the global narrative that continues to promote microfinance as a one-size-fits-all solution to poverty. Our hope is that the film inspires critical conversations and meaningful change, advocating for policies and practices that genuinely prioritize the dignity and welfare of those in need.
Please list key points that should be covered in a post-screening discussion:
Key Points for Post-Screening Discussion
1) Accountability for Global North Investments:
Discuss how original funding for microfinance institutions often originates from investors in the Global North.
Explore mechanisms to improve accountability, such as stricter regulations, independent monitoring, and transparency requirements, to ensure a “no harm” guarantee for vulnerable borrowers.
2) Systemic Changes to Protect Vulnerable Communities:
Identify necessary systemic reforms, including implementing ethical lending practices, setting caps on interest rates, and providing borrowers with financial literacy education.
Highlight the role of governments, financial institutions, and NGOs in creating safeguards to prevent exploitation and mitigate harm.
3) Global Context of Microfinance Misuse:
Examine whether Cambodia’s experience with microfinance is unique or reflective of broader global issues.
Compare and contrast Cambodia’s situation with examples of microfinance successes and failures in other countries, identifying common patterns and lessons that can be applied universally.
What opportunities are available for those interested in getting further involved?
For those interested in getting further involved, there are meaningful opportunities to connect with and support local NGOs that are actively addressing microfinance issues in Cambodia. Organizations such as LICADHO and Equitable Cambodia are at the forefront of advocating for the rights and well-being of vulnerable communities impacted by microfinance. By linking up with these groups, individuals can contribute to ongoing efforts, whether through financial support, volunteering, or amplifying their work to raise global awareness.
Please provide any additional resources (websites, links to additional videos, forms, articles, etc.):
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/oct/23/cambodia-microfinance-loan-firms-indigenous-people
https://www.licadho-cambodia.org/pressrelease.php?perm=524
https://dialogue.earth/en/climate/green-bonds-red-flags-cambodias-microfinance-crisis-deepens-amid-sustainability-push/
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