Karmalink

Karmalink (2022)

In this Buddhist sci-fi mystery, a teenage orphan in the slums of Phnom Penh, Cambodia investigates her friend’s past-life visions, uncovering a conspiracy of scientific reincarnation.

Date of release
2022-07-15
TMDB
4.5 / 10 (6)
Runtime
1h 41m
Genres
Science Fiction, Adventure, Drama
Director
Jake Wachtel

Casting

Interesting facts

  • Filmed in: Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh railway station, and Olympic Stadium

Karmalink is a 2021 science fiction film directed and co-written by Jake Wachtel in his feature film directorial debut. An international co-production of Cambodia and the United States, it is the first Cambodian-produced science fiction film. It stars Leng Heng Prak and Srey Leak Chhith in their acting debuts, who also worked with Wachtel and co-writer Christopher Larsen on developing the story and translating it into Khmer. The film is dedicated to lead actor Leng Heng Prak, who died before its completion.

Production

Wachtel, an American, wrote and directed the film after moving to Cambodia in 2014 and working with local students as part of Filmmakers Without Borders. Inspired by Kazuo Ishiguro's novel Never Let Me Go, Wachtel devised a science fiction story set in Phnom Penh in the near future. Two of Wachtel's students, Leng Heng Prak and Srey Leak Chhith, were the inspiration for the main characters. They were later cast in the film to play them.

The film's themes draw on Buddhist concepts of karma and rebirth, as well as artificial intelligence and economic inequality. Wachtel spent several years honing the script, working with Cambodian friends and colleagues to ensure local culture was adequately reflected. The displacement of 4,000 families around Boeung Kak also served as inspiration for the story. The film was primarily shot in Phnom Penh over 37 days.

During the film's editing, lead actor Leng Heng Prak died. The film is dedicated to his memory.

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