If you want to understand Cambodia before you visit, watching documentaries is the best way to prepare for its hidden history. From the massive “lost cities” discovered by lasers to the beautiful rock and roll music of the 1960s, these films show you the real story of the Khmer people. They help you see beyond the stone temples to understand how this great empire lived, disappeared, and is coming back today.
Table of Contents
- The Best Documentaries on Angkor Wat and Its Discovery
- How Technology Found “Hidden Cities”: The LIDAR Revolution
- Documentaries on Cambodian History and the Khmer Rouge
- Cambodian Culture and Modern Life
- Where to Watch These Documentaries
- FAQs About Cambodia Documentaries
The Best Documentaries on Angkor Wat and Its Discovery
Most people know Angkor Wat is the largest religious building in the world, but few know how it was actually built or how it was “lost” to the jungle.
1. Ancient Megastructures: Angkor Wat (National Geographic)
This is the best film for anyone who wonders, “How did they build that?” It explains how ancient workers moved millions of heavy stones from mountains far away without any modern trucks or cranes. It uses cool 3D graphics to show the temple being built from the ground up.
2. Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia (2020 Documentary):
This documentary provides a deep, visually rich look at the history of Angkor Wat, using 3D cameras to showcase the temple complex, including aerial shots and nighttime ceremonies.
3. The Buried Mysteries of Angkor Wat (Timeline)
This documentary tells the story of the “discovery” of the temples. While local monks always lived there, it explains how the rest of the world found out about it in the 1860s through the journals of French explorers. It’s a great mix of adventure and history.
4. Lost Treasures of Angkor (PBS / Secrets of the Dead)
This film follows archaeologists as they find gold and silver artifacts that were hidden for centuries. It explains the “Golden Age” of the Khmer Empire when the kings were considered gods.
If you are more into movies checkout the best movies to watch about Cambodia before your visit
The Best Documentaries on YouTube
- Angkor Wat (Full Episode) | Access 360 World Heritage
- The Khmer Empire – Fall of the God Kings
- Angkor Wat: The Ancient Chronicles of Cambodia’s Stone Giant
- The Khmer Empire – Fall of the God Kings
How Technology Found “Hidden Cities”: The LIDAR Revolution
In the last few years, scientists have used a special laser called LIDAR to find cities hidden under the trees. These documentaries show that the temples were just the center of a city much bigger than anyone imagined.
- Jungle Atlantis (BBC): This is a famous two-part series. It shows how lasers fired from a helicopter “erased” the trees on a computer screen, revealing a massive network of roads and houses that used to be home to a million people.
- Angkor Revealed (Apple TV): This series focuses on the discovery of Mahendraparvata, a “lost city” on top of a mountain. It explains how the empire managed its water so well that it became the most powerful kingdom in Southeast Asia.
Documentaries on Cambodian History and the Khmer Rouge
To respect the local people you meet, it helps to understand the difficult times they went through in the 1970s.
- Enemies of the People: A very moving film where a Cambodian journalist spends years talking to former soldiers to find out the truth about the “Killing Fields.”
- The Missing Picture: This is a unique movie that uses hand-carved clay figures to tell the story of a family surviving the war. It is very artistic and beautiful, even though the story is sad.
- S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine: This documentary takes place inside the Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh. It features survivors and former guards talking to each other, which is very powerful to watch.
Cambodian Culture and Modern Life
Cambodia is a country that is growing and changing fast. These films show you the “heart” of the people today.
Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll
Before the war, Cambodia was the center of rock music in Asia! This documentary plays amazing music from the 1960s and shows how cool and stylish the country was. It is a happy film that makes you want to dance.
A River Changes Course
This beautiful film follows three families—one in the jungle, one on the water, and one in the city. It shows how modern life is changing traditional ways of fishing and farming. It is a great way to see what life is like for real Cambodians today.
Where to Watch These Documentaries
You can find most of these films online:
- YouTube: Many National Geographic and BBC documentaries are available for free on channels like Timeline or Get.factual.
- Netflix: First They Killed My Father and other history-focused films.
- Amazon Prime & Apple TV: These are great for finding specialised archaeology documentaries like Angkor Revealed.
FAQs About Cambodia Documentaries
Q: Was Angkor Wat actually “lost”?
A: Not really. Local Khmer people always knew the temples were there, and monks lived in them for centuries. It was only “lost” to the Western world until explorers “found” it again in the 1800s.
Q: What is LIDAR?
A: It stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It’s a laser that can see through the thick jungle leaves to map the ground underneath. It is the reason we now know Angkor was the largest city in the world 800 years ago.
Q: Which one should I watch first?
A: If you plan to visit Angkor Wat, you can watch a documentary on YouTube. If you love history, watch The Killing Fields. If you love adventure and temples, watch Jungle Atlantis. If you love music, watch Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten.
Final Thought
Watching these documentaries is the best way to prepare for your trip. You won’t just see old stones; you will see the ghosts of a massive city, the rhythm of ancient music, and the incredible strength of the Cambodian spirit. These stories make every sunset at Angkor Wat feel much more special.
