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The Act of Killing

Jagal

  • Status: Released
  • 01-11-2012
  • Runtime: 117 min
  • Score: 7.666
  • Vote count: 730

In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres, from gangster epics to musicals. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia’s 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.

Anwar Congo

Self - Executioner in 1965

Herman Koto

Self - Gangster & Paramilitary Leader

Syamsul Arifin

Self - Governor of North Sumatra

Ibrahim Sinik

Self - Newspaper Publisher

Yapto Soerjosoemarno

Self - Leader of Pancasila Youth

Safit Pardede

Self - Local Paramilitary Leader

Jusuf Kalla

Self - Vice President of Indonesia

Adi Zulkadry

Self - Fellow Executioner in 1965

Suryono

Self - Anwar's Neighbor

Haji Marzuki

Self - Member of North Sumatra Parliament

Haji Anif

Self - Paramilitary Leader & Businessman

Rahmat Shah

Self - Member of Parliament

Sakhyan Asmara

Self - Deputy Minister of Youth & Sport

Soaduon Siregar

Self

Arrrrrrrach

The synopsis is available elsewhere and I have no idea how to review a film like this so here are a few simple lines: I have never seen anything remotely like this and would go as far as to say that it is one of the most honest portrayals of several aspects of the human psyche I have ever experienced in any medium. It's not a pleasant film but I can't give it any less than full marks for its bravery, arrogance and honesty when dealing with an uncomfortable aspect of our species. Joshua Oppenheimer (dir.) understands the social norms of his subjects' environment and also their own egos and greed, shows us so that we also understand and then uses all he has learned to get them to openly reveal all directly to the audience, pretty much by luring them. It's obvious that with the backstory and footage used he already had more than enough for a documentary film and it seems as though he thought 'I have a better plan' and then made this film instead, in the ultimate quest for knowledge. Beyond words and essential. Note: There is a companion to this called 'The Look of Silence', which is a different type of film altogether and one that sheds much extra light onto the the events of this time and place but from a different perspective and this is also recommended, albeit not as strongly.