BORAMEY: Ghosts in the Factory (2021)

sinossi

Sreyra, Ponler, and Sreyven are three young garment workers in Cambodia. Day after day, they produce clothes for the most important global brands, until something exceptional disrupts their routine: suddenly they pass out in the workplace, an event that is followed by their colleagues fainting en masse. Episodes of mass fainting like these are not uncommon in Cambodia, where labour conditions remain harsh. According to trade unionists and government officials, this is caused by long work hours, high temperatures, and malnutrition. However, workers tell a different story: what happened to them is caused by spirits (boramey), angered by the lack of respect shown by the factory owners. Starting from this enigmatic background, Boramey: Ghosts in the Factory offers insight into the lives of Cambodian garment workers at the intersection of work, religion, family, and spirituality.

credits

Production: Ivan Franceschini / Made in China Journal
Directed by: Tommaso Facchin, Ivan Franceschini
Cinematography and Editing: Tommaso Facchin
Executive Producer: Ratana Heng
Associated Creative Producer: Roberto Cavallini / Altrove Films
Sound Design and Mix: Matteo Bordin / Outside Inside Studio
Colour Correction: Francesco Marotta / Digital Rainbow

Status: Completed

Length: 60’ | Year: 2021 | Country of Origin: Italy | Country of Filming: Cambodia | Language: Khmer | Subtitles: English

awards

1° Premio al XIV Concorso nazionale Roberto Gavioli per documentari sul mondo dell’industria e del lavoro

festivals

World premiere at Workers Unite Film Festival, New York (USA), 2021