European Film Academy picks ‘Paper’ as doc winner

The EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY announced the winner for the best DOCUMENTARY of 2007 – the top doc is Paper cannot Wrap up Embers. Rithy Panh's film is situated as close as one can get to the life – and thus the spiritual death – of a prostitute. The ultimate social decay ends with the irreparable injustice of a process that cannot be reversed: the destruction of a body.

Here is the press release: “Carefully balancing observational cinema with very well made scenes the winning film depicts the lives of a group of Cambodian prostitutes and their closest surroundings. With infinite respect and great warmth, a near “Brechtian” documentary unfolds, a work of great humanity and impressive artistic competence. Here is the voice of a community who usually remain mute and the mutual respect and care they manage to maintain under conditions of extreme exploitation. The European Film Academy Documentary 2007 – Prix ARTE is awarded to the French director Rithy Panh for his film PAPER CANNOT WRAP UP EMBERS.”

Panh last directed S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine.