Movie Review: The Act of Killing (2013)
Written by Anthony Sargon
Human beings can do some pretty atrocious things. Killing animals is no longer just a necessity; it’s a sport…a hobby. We murder each other on a daily basis. How do we justify it? How do we live with ourselves? ”The Act of Killing” attempts to make sense of that behavior by focusing on a group of gangsters who were part of the Indonesian Killings of 1965-1966, and the results are riveting, to say the least.
Following the failed coup of the 30 September Movement in 1965 in Indonesia, gangsters and paramilitary organizations were given free rein to kill any “communist” they came across (basically anyone against the regime). As a result, an estimated 500,000 people lost their lives. Although these killings are known worldwide and are openly discussed in Indonesia, none of the men responsible have faced persecution. “The Act of Killing” documents a group of gangsters and paramilitary leaders (who led a lot of these attacks) as they try to reenact the killings in a series of films that they have full control over.
The movie works so well because director Joshua Oppenheimer puts the narrative in the hands of the killers themselves. By filming them as they work to make their short films, we watch as they openly discuss killing hundreds upon hundreds of people. Some are convinced that what they did was right, and would do it again in a heartbeat. Others, like the film’s main subject Anwar Congo, are more conflicted. Anwar suffers from recurring nightmares, and some of the film segments he produced were surprisingly personal.
When the documentary begins, we see Anwar proudly showing off a technique he developed to “humanely” strangle people to death. By the middle of the film, he’s crying at the thought of his actions coming back to haunt him. These people lie to themselves every single day, but after being tasked with telling their story through film, these lies slowly begin to unravel. But like I said, some characters show absolutely no remorse, and openly reminisce about being able to rape 14-year-old girls and having unchecked power. The way they casually talk about “exterminating” people is frightening, disgusting, and so bizarre that it’s sometimes funny.
The Verdict:
“The Act of Killing” is a documentary unlike any I’ve seen before. It humanizes people who have done absolutely morbid things, and gives them an opportunity to come face to face with their actions. It’s easily one of the most resonant and memorable documentaries you’ll ever watch.
Numerical Score: 9.5/10
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