is further revealed that if Soraya's virginity is broken, she will permanently turn into a snake. Cast Winai Kraibutr as Wae-ha Pich Chanbormey as Soraya Tep Rindaro as Snake god Ampor Tevi as Nhi Heng Dary Sam Polida Chao Channary Tim Angkeara Origins The Snake King's Child is a popular myth in Cambodia and has been depicted on film many times, one of the most famous being a 1960s version, Pos Keng Kang (Snake Woman) that starred Dy Saveth. In 2000, Cambodian director Fai Sam Ang decided it was time to try to make the first feature-length film for cinema in Cambodia since before the Khmer Rouge era, and he chose the oft-told tale in hopes that it would be a commercial success. The film was made as a co-production with investors from Thailand, and featured Thai leading man Winai Kraibutr, veteran Cambodian soap opera actress Ampor Tevi and 17-year-old debut Cambodian actress Pich Chanbormey. Special effects No digital effects are used in the film, as they could not be afforded by the production. To achieve the effect of Soraya's head full of writhing snakes, live snakes were glued to a cap worn by actress Pich Chanboramey. "Sometimes the snakes would leap off her head, and we'd have to chase them around the set," director Fai Sam Ang said in an interview. He also said he had trouble convincing the actress to wear the cap. "When she first saw the snakes, she cried and cried," Fai Sam Ang said. "But I told her she had to be professional. In the end, it was no problem. The snakes would just give her little kisses on the cheek." For another scene, a 4.5-meter python borrowed from a Buddhist temple was placed on top of actress Ampor Tevi to depict her character's sex scene with the snake king. Release At the time of the film's release, war-ravaged Cambodia did not yet have any commercial cinemas suitable to premiere the film, so it was screened at the French Cultural Center and outdoors in the courtyard of a local television station in Phnom Penh. The film also opened in wide release in Thai cinemas. Due to Winai Kraibutr's presence in the cast, the film was marketed in Hong Kong and other Asian markets as Ghost Wife 2 in an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the 1999 Thai ghost film Nang Nak (Ghost