First They Killed My Father

This is a very powerful movie, based on a memoir by Loung Un, that depicts the trials of one family in Cambodia. Opening in Phnom Penh, the family is shown to be happy, prosperous and comfortable, living in a beautiful apartment with few worries. "Pa" is an officer in the pro-American government's military. But as the US commitment in neighbouring Vietnam collapses, the US withdraws from Cambodia, and Phnom Penh is overrun with guerrillas from the Khmer Rouge. People are expelled from the city, and the rest of the movie depicts the brutal treatment of the Khmer Rouge toward these refugees who required "re-education," whose personal possessions were taken away and who were forced to work in labour camps, supplying food to the soldiers whole they themselves faced virtual starvation, with many of the children being taught to become killing machines for the new regime. The movie is largely told through the eyes of Loung, and it's certainly eye-opening for viewers, as we're exposed to the inhumanity (on all sides) of warfare.

Directed by Angelina Jolie (who I thought did a fabulous job) the film doesn't paint a simplistic portrait of "Khmer Rouge bad, Americans good." It was the US that decided to start a bombing campaign in neutral Cambodia, after all, turning much of the rural population against them and those who were looked on as their allies - mainly the city dwellers, and especially former government officials and soldiers. The decision to film the movie in Cambodian (rather than having the actors speak English with Cambodian accents or dubbing the dialogue into English) was a good one that gave even more of a feel of authenticity to this. The portrayal of Loung (by a Cambodian child actress named Sreymoch Sareum) was superb and powerful. Starting out as a fun-loving, somewhat mischievous little girl, the range of emotions shown as she deals with the nightmare she fell into was absolutely raw. I did find that the last half hour (as Loung finds herself first with the Vietnamese and then in a Red Cross camp) was a little bit confusing.

It might help if a viewer has a little bit of knowledge about the history of Cambodia in this period and especially about the Khmer Rouge regime, but it's not vital. The story itself lets you know what you need to know and the heartache you feel for Loung (and her siblings, and really everyone who was caught up in this madness as their worlds were turned upside down) is very deep and very real. It's a powerful experience to watch this. (8/10)