Becoming Human
In this award-winning debut, Polen Ly presents a meditative story about a guardian spirit of an abandoned Battambang cinema who must decide whether to become a homeless spirit after the building’s demolition or become human again.
Tickets
Select showtime for pricing and tickets.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
Thursday, May 14, 2026
- Limited Availability
- On Standby
- Matinee
In Becoming Human, Thida has lingered as the guardian spirit of an abandoned cinema in Battambang since her death during the Cambodian genocide. As developers prepare to demolish the building, she faces a difficult choice: remain a spirit without a home or be reborn as a human. Haunted by memories of suffering, she puts off her decision. Meanwhile, Hai, a young man visiting the building to photograph it and relive his childhood memories, unexpectedly forms a bond with Thida. Together, they explore profound questions about what it means to have a home and to be human.
Director Polen Ly makes his debut, supported by the highly competitive Venice Biennale's College Cinema program, crafting a cinematic experience reminiscent of Tsai Ming-liang and Jia Zhangke. The film features languorous scenes that invite reflection on its philosophical themes, using striking cinematography to capture the rich textures of life and the afterlife. The Biennale's investment in this promising new filmmaker's meditative exploration pays off, as the film won two awards at the 2025 Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, including the top prize.
—SuJ'n Chon
- Original Language Title: Chiet Chea Manusa
- Director: Polen Ly
- Principal Cast: Savorn Serak, Piseth Chhun
- Country: Cambodia
- Year: 2025
- Running Time: 99 min.
- Producer: Daniel Mattes
- Screenplay: Polen Ly
- Cinematographers: Son Doan
- Editors: Kavich Neang
- Music: Jean-Charles Bastion, Pierre Edouard Dumora
- Website: Official Film Website
- Awards: Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2025 (Golden Hanoman Award, NETPAC Award)
- Filmography: Until The Orchid Blooms (2024)
- Language: Khmer
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- International Sales: Lights On