Mekong River (07:01)

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Along a stretch of the river, islands sheltering villages appear during the dry season. A fisherman complains about having to compete with poachers.

Rural Classroom (05:23)

The fisherman's son walks to his modest school. His teacher discusses her background and goals for students. The school building did not initially have a concrete floor. After school, chores often overshadow homework.

Family Story (05:54)

The fisherman and his wife are from the same village; theirs is an arranged marriage. They discuss their family, which includes several children, and fishing.

Spiritual Location (05:58)

The fisherman and his children encounter a group of musicians in the shadow of a sacred tree. Locals believe the tree holds the spirit of a genie. Cambodians have two main religions: Buddhism and animism.

Family-Owned Shipyard (03:31)

Workers handcraft wooden boats. Change will eventually impact the region; plastic and fiberglass boats replace the wooden vessels.

Night Fishing (02:20)

Fishermen venture onto the Mekong River. Equipped with headlamps, they repeatedly dive into the river, catching fish by hand.

Monastery Life (06:13)

Buddhism is Cambodia's official religion; monks live and worship in pagodas. A monk discusses his background and aspirations. He attends class and finds his lessons difficult.

Indigenous People (04:02)

The Pnong live in a region of Cambodia that once had no proper roads, helping to preserve local culture and traditions. An elderly woman discusses her background and past traditions.

Great Road (03:30)

The road is opening the region and stimulating trade. A young man rides his scooter to an orchard where he helps his family pick cashews; Cambodia is the largest producer in Asia.

Vanishing Pachyderms (09:56)

A young man feeds his family’s elephant; he became the animal's caretaker after his father grew too old. There are strict rules against breading elephants and it is illegal to catch them.

Credits: Cambodia: From the Mekong to the Foot of the Hills (00:49)

Credits: Cambodia: From the Mekong to the Foot of the Hills