"The Healing Circle" is an intimate and visually experimental short documentary that celebrates the resilience of Cambodian women through the healing power of storytelling, art, and music. Centering on Celina Chin, Saroth Loeuk, and Pich Houy, the film follows their remarkable journeys from childhoods in Cambodia to surviving the Cambodian Genocide, seeking refuge in the United States, and rebuilding their lives in Chicago.

Through heartfelt storytelling facilitated by Ada Cheng, these women share their memories of survival, loss, and the strength it took to forge new beginnings. Interwoven with their stories are performances of traditional Cambodian songs, sung with deep emotion by Chin, Loeuk, and Houy. They are joined by Punisa Pov, Resident Artist of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial, whose roneat ak playing and vocals are accompanied by the Crossing Borders Music string quartet, performing world premiere arrangements by Rasa Mahmoudian.

The documentary delves into the broader history of the Cambodian Genocide, which began on April 17, 1975, when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia. Over the next four years, more than two million people perished. Now commemorated annually as the Cambodian Day of Remembrance, April 17th serves as a time to honor the lives lost and celebrate the ongoing resilience of Cambodian people.

Visually, the film employs superimposed imagery to create a multidimensional portrait of its subjects, challenging traditional notions of space and time. This experimental approach reflects the intersections of trauma, healing, and creativity, adding depth to the women’s stories and their journeys of survival and renewal.

At its heart, "The Healing Circle" is a tribute to the courage of Cambodian women whose voices are often unheard. It is a powerful testament to the enduring impact of storytelling, music, and community in the process of healing and preserving cultural identity.

Director Biography - Thavary Krouch

Thavary Krouch is a Cambodian-American filmmaker born in a refugee camp along the Thai-Cambodian border and raised in Long Beach, California. She brings personal and cultural memory to the heart of her work. Her short documentary "The Healing Circle" uplifts the stories, songs, and resilience of Cambodian women. Thavary holds an MFA in Writing and Directing from Columbia College Chicago and a BA in Anthropology from Indiana University - Purdue University of Indianapolis.

Director Statement

As a child of genocide survivors, I feel a profound responsibility to honor the voices of Cambodian women who have endured unimaginable hardships. My documentary, "The Healing Circle" explores resilience and the ways art and music become lifelines through difficult times. This story is deeply personal, born out of a desire to celebrate the humor, strength, and courage of women whose voices are often unheard.

The film centers on Celina Chin, Saroth Loeuk, and Pich Houy, three remarkable women who share their journeys from childhoods in Cambodia, surviving the Cambodian Genocide, and building new lives abroad. Through storytelling and traditional songs of strength and healing, they invite us into their lives, offering both vulnerability and hope. Their stories are facilitated by Ada Cheng, whose expertise in creating spaces for people to tell difficult stories helps illuminate their resilience.

This Cambodian Day of Remembrance, we honor these women, their voices, and the millions who perished during one of the darkest chapters of human history. On April 17th, 1975, the Khmer Rouge, a notorious communist regime, took over Cambodia. Over the next four years, more than two million people died from torture, hard labor, untreated illnesses, and starvation. Today, April 17th serves as a day to commemorate the lives lost while celebrating the ongoing resilience of Cambodian people, whose journey of healing continues.

Traditional Cambodian music, an art form targeted for destruction by the Khmer Rouge, plays a central role in the documentary. Chin, Loeuk, and Houy sing alongside the voice and roneat ak of Punisa Pov, Resident Artist of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial. They are accompanied by the Crossing Borders Music string quartet, performing world premiere arrangements by Rasa Mahmoudian. Cambodian music reflects resilience in the face of erasure—only 10% of Cambodian artists survived the genocide. Efforts by Arn Chorn-Pond and the organization Cambodia Living Arts have saved and revived these traditions, passing them to younger generations like Punisa Pov, who continues this legacy.

Visually, I wanted to move beyond traditional documentary formats to convey the depth and complexity of their stories. By using a split-screen technique and superimposing images onto a white backdrop, the film transcends conventional notions of space and time, creating a multidimensional portrayal of their lives. This experimental approach mirrors the intersections of trauma, healing, and creativity in their narratives.

This project was made possible through the collaboration of the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Crossing Borders Music. The Healing Circle is more than a reflection on survival—it is a testament to the enduring power of art, storytelling, and community to heal. By sharing the voices of Chin, Loeuk, and Houy, we celebrate their courage and ensure that their stories of strength and resilience inspire generations to come.