Quartier des fantômes (District of Ghosts), born of his pen and that of Christophe Bataille and published by Grasset in early 2026, is not a simple narrative: it is an intimate wandering, a feverish vigil for shadows that refuse to fall silent. Few pages—just 128—are enough for this book to carve a deep furrow, blending raw poetry with an unflinching reminder of a genocide that swallowed a quarter of the Cambodian people.

With Cambodian audiences about to see Rithy Panh's highly awaited latest film in cinemas across the Kingdom, we feature an interview with...