Same Same But Different 2009
Distributed by First Run Features, 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036; 212-243-0600
Produced by Claus Boje
Directed by Detlev Buck
DVD, color, 107 min.
Sr. High - General Adult
AIDS/HIV, Communication, Culture, Ethics, Feature Films
Date Entered: 04/02/2015
Reviewed by Jeffrey Pearson, University of Michigan Ann ArborThis winning feature film tells the story of Ben, a German student vacationing in Cambodia who meets and finds love with Sreykeo, a Cambodian “bar girl” or prostitute in Phnom Penh. Though the film has a somewhat conventional “can love survive across cultures?” storyline, it stands out with a vibrant portrayal of life in Cambodia and the sympathetic performances of the principals. The stakes are raised considerably when Sreykeo discovers she is HIV-positive and Ben must decide how to help her and the extent of his commitment. The film explores themes of personal responsibility, differing societal and family expectations of the two cultures, and a disparity in the availability of effective HIV drugs in different countries. The film in refreshingly non-judgmental in tone, focusing on the positive choices the lovers make to commit to each other. You root for the characters, and the film gains an added emotional resonance to know it was based on a true story.
This film is a good selection for public and academic libraries that collect independent and foreign film. It would be good for generating discussion in classes related to AIDS/HIV, culture, ethics, and communication studies.