City planning and land use in Phnom Penh: looking back from “now” Phnom Penh: planned and un-planned to “then”. by Thomas Kolnberger

Thomas Kolnberger, born in Salzburg, Austria, is PhD-candidate in Historical Geography at the University of Luxembourg (Laboratoire d’histoire) and Passau (Southeast Asian Studies, Germany). His lecture will highlight the on-going production of spatial relations between "planning from above" and "from below" as grass-rooted urban planning by looking back from Phnom Penh's "now" (after the fall of the Khmer Rouge-regime) to "then" (colonial times).

Organized by: Human Sciences Encounters in Phnom Penh email: hs.encounters@gmail.com web: http://hshhpp.pbworks.com

GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER 2012 for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

137 min - Drama | Based on the international bestseller |

Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (Emma Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends' lives -- and a Mississippi town -- upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families.

Aibileen (Davis), Skeeter's best friend's housekeeper, is the first to open up -- to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter's life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories -- and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly -- and unwillingly -- caught up in the changing times.

This is an incredible film that not only pays justice to the bestseller on which it's based (according to those who have read the book AND seen the film), but is phenomenally cast, with exceptional performances by Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard and Allison Janney. Veteran actresses Sissy Spacek and Cicely Tyson also deliver incredible performances.

The Help also delivers some very funny moments and will make you laugh. This film and a few of its cast members will draw some Oscar nominations.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ajv_6pUnI

In Cambodia, each year thousands of girls and boys are bought, sold or kidnapped and then forced to have sex with grown men. UK director Matthew Watson’s new film THE VIRGINITY TRADE (2009, 60mins, Khmer/English subs) is the compelling and utterly alarming account of the lives of girls and women affected by the so-called “virginity trade”.

Many Asian men believe that obtaining a virgin girl for sex will grant them extra health and luck. GIRLS OF PHNOM PENH (2009, 64mins, Khmer/English subs) follows three victims over six months. Srey Leak was deflowered when she was 14. Her friends, Menea & Cheata, opted to sell themselves to support their families.

CouchSurfing.org is the largest hospitality exchange network on the internet. Locals hosts and travelers from all over the world meet up informally, exchanging travel stories, drinks and the Couchsurfing spirit.

132 min - Documentary |

An unconventional documentary that lifts the veil on what's really going on in our world by following the money upstream - uncovering the global consolidation of power in nearly every aspect of our lives. Weaving together breakthroughs in science, consciousness and activism, Thrive offers real solutions, empowering us with unprecedented and bold strategies for reclaiming our lives and our future.

This movie can make you wake up and see the world and what is going on in it, as it truly is.

Extremely powerful and very convincing and utilizes the expertise of some extraordinary people like Deepak Chopra, David Icke, Astronaut Edgar Mitchell and many other amazing people, authors and scientists.

But keep your 'critical glasses' on while watching it: you'll see misery vs. perfection: people suffer in a toxic wasteland, but if you join The Movement ("send money, a lot of money") you will see people smiling like crazy in beautiful natural surroundings.

It's classic propaganda. But greatly done.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OibqdwHyZxk

The highly experienced Rebecca Norton (replacing Oskar Nery in February) will be your yoga teacher for one hour, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8.00am and 12.30pm.

Classes take place in the air conditioned room of The Flicks Community Movie House on Street 95 (between Str 310 and 360) and costs only $5 per hour.

Please sign up for your desired class(es) through the website at www.theflicks-cambodia.com/classes.php as we can only have a maximum of 10 participants per class.

In a coded manner, Ben Thynal looks at the selfish nature of human relationships from the familial to the religious. By referring to his “family” Thynal immediately suggests something intimate and personal, but alludes to society as a whole. Unapologetically, he discards the “politically correct” view and looks critically at how families often manipulate and exploit each other for personal gain, the pretense of religious rituals and even the abuse of corruption.

“When even one person acts selfishly, it hurts everyone,” Thynal explains.

One painting, titled “Immoral,” depicts a mother with long snake-like arms trying to catch children out of the air while a “thought bubble” is filled with playing cards. The mother preys upon her own children to make money that she only wastes by gambling. Another shows a tightly wound group of people trapped in a circular formation—their smiling faces purposely misleading when paired with the title “Monster Family.” In “Balance” several intertwined figures that represent a network of self-serving individuals fill an egg-like shape that balances on another small egg and small red circle resting precariously on a thin line.

In each of the paintings, the cartoon-like figures belie the menacing subject and hint at the contradiction between one’s inner nature and the external expression.

Thynal, part of the new generation of outspoken and critical artists, has explored several themes that are socially-focused including landmines, the environment and the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge. He works as an art teacher at Mith Samlanh, one of the leading NGOs working with vulnerable youth and their communities. He graduated from Phare Ponleu Selpak (Battambang) in 2006 and his work has been exhibited in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. This will be his second solo show.

Viewing hours: every day 7am – 10pm

Join Trivia in the Garden. It's fun, casual and not too serious. Anything goes really!

Probably Phnom Penh's biggest quiz (they regularly pay out over $100 in prize money) but they don't take themselves too seriously. Oh, and you can win that money if you are smart though.

7.30pm every Wednesday $2 per player Maximum 7 people per team

Caption competition, music round, picture round ... fun for everyone!

$3 sausage sizzle plus a full menu $3 Sausage sizzle

Theme: Hip-Hop Street Culture; Music, Break Dancing, Graffiti, Street Style Clothing Music: Hip-Hop, R&B, International, Khmer and Asian Pop by the Riverhouse's resident deejays.

Loungy Electro House to ease your mid weak blues. If you got an ear for Electronica, swing by Phnom Penhs hottest new Club! EVERY WEDNESDAY 22PM till late !

The artist Mea Sokhorn presents a work consisting in many colorful paintings while, at the center, a thick volume of paintings on each other flattens, so that these art works are transformed into a single one. Through this installation, he gives us a his contradicting view on art.

Open from 8am to 6pm.

Through his use of color, Em Riem renews, with brilliance, his artistic expression, whose eclecticism constantly nourishes his style, which skillfully mixes the creative freedom of the painter with the formal rigor of the designer.

Viewing hours: 11am - 7pm.

The Halo of the Omnipresent Eye by Than Sok is a solo exhibition presenting interactive sculptures and installations through which the artist seeks to provoke questions around the practice of monetary alms-giving in Cambodia while playfully drawing connections between the roles of monastics and artists.

Although some monks commit to permanent vows, monkhood in Cambodia is traditionally considered a right of passage in which young males are expected to serve temporary terms intended as merit-building activities for parents. Due in part to a shift in almsgiving practices in which laity replace food with cash offerings - a practice antagonistic to precepts meant to prevent monks from indulgences including the handling of money - many young men can now consider monkhood as an opportunity to escape poverty, relocate to urban centers, participate in secular education, and are seen as participating in laic life before disrobing. Still, alms remain a central practice and symbol of the sangha, or Buddhist community, and provide the opportunity for givers to earn merit for a better rebirth.

The Halo of the Omnipresent Eye stages the artist’s own alms scenarios in the gallery. To Give Is To Receive I and II (2012) reconfigure materials and forms used in exchanges between monks and laity. The pair of alms stations are presided over by representational halos associated with divine knowing – a reminder that intention, the source of good or bad action, which is invisible, is “visible” via its karmic effect.

Than Sok (born 1984, Takeo) investigates religious and spiritual beliefs, materials, and rituals through sculpture, installation, video and performance. Than graduated from Reyum Art School (2005), Reyum Workshop (2007) and is currently studying architecture.

Opening Hours: Thurs/Fri 2-6pm, Sat/Sun 10am-6pm Location: SA SA BASSAC #18 2nd Floor, Sothearos Boulevard Web: www.sasabassac.com