The eleven "contestants" in the movie are all real-life former contestants from the first season of "Academy Fantasia", a popular "American Idol"-style TV show in Thailand.
The film caused a huge controversy when Cambodian officials accused the film of treating the Cambodian genocide as a business opportunity, and dealing with the Khmer Rouge Genocide with insensitivity. The film was banned in Cambodia, and the Thai producers apologized for hurting feelings, but the film was released on schedule anyway.