FlixChatter Review of The Act of Killing

The Act of Killing (2012)

Harrowing, shocking, and at times unbearable to watch... but it's also surprisingly poetic and beautiful.

[9/10 · 7 August 2013]

The Act of Killing is a documentary based on the Indonesian genocide in 1965. It challenges former Indonesian death squad leaders to reenact their real-life mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish. The killings resulted in one of the most brutal genocide in history, with nearly a million people slaughtered within a year. It's obvious some of the scenes they re-enacted are inspired by Hollywood films, as the perpetrators of the killings themselves admitted that they're big fans of violent Brando and Pacino movies. No doubt this is one of the most bizarre and frightening films I've ever seen, but also one of the most inventive. Most documentaries I've seen usually have talking heads or footage of the subject matter, but in this case, we not only get the first-hand account of the event, but the perpetrators themselves willingly re-enact the brutal events on camera. The documentary is so well-crafted as it really transported me to another realm. Director Joshua Oppenheimer spent nearly a decade working on this film, which grew out of another project he was working on in Indonesia in 2001. The Texas-born filmmaker (who currently resides in Copenhagen) had been fluent in Indonesian whilst filming this, and it's apparent that he cares very deeply about the story. I'm amazed at how candid the former death squad leaders were in revealing the acts of killings they did four decades ago, down to the most gruesome details, both in words and in the form of the various re-enactments. It's interesting that in some of the scenes they're playing the 'victim' of the torture and execution. At one point Anwar said to Joshua that perhaps he could feel what his victims felt when they were subjected to such horrifying terror, but the director wisely but politely rebuked him. Obviously he could never felt what his victims felt, given that what Anwar took part in was only fiction, not the real deal. The word 'amusing' perhaps isn't what you'd expect in a documentary about mass killings... yet the re-enactments that were inspired by various Hollywood genres ranging from Cowboy movies, crime drama, and bizarre musical numbers where a member of Indonesian paramilitary Pemuda Pancasila was dressed in an ornate drag costume. Though some of the scenes are quite amusing, it's truly revolting that these guys are in such good spirits and joking around whilst filming such horrific acts. It's one thing when an actor has to act out a fictional violent film, but every scenes they depicted here are based on true acts of killing that they themselves performed to hundreds of thousand innocent victims. The film focuses mainly on two of the most notorious death squad leaders in North Sumatra, Anwar Congo and Adi Zulkadry. It's interesting to note the different reactions between the two in how they cope with their past sins. Anwar seems somewhat remorseful and honest about being haunted by his past, in the form of nightmares and psychological torment, whilst Adi is more defiant and in denial about how his past doesn't really affect him. There's an absurd conversation between the two when they're talking about seeing a shrink to help alleviate their psychological issues. One of the most intriguing character in the film is Herman, who's dressed in drag for a good part of the film. He wasn't actually involved in the massacre at the time as he was only about 10 years old then, but he played a prominent part in this film. His evolution throughout the film is striking as he starts out as someone who greatly admires his friend Anwar. As the film progresses, it's as if his eyes were opened to the reality of evil that he's somehow being shielded from all his life. Despite all the grisly depictions, the most affecting scenes to me are surprisingly those when no words are spoken. Whether it's a scene of Herman playing drums while wailing and screaming uncontrollably, or the deafeningly quiet moment when Anwar simply stops at the stairway as he's going down from the rooftop where a lot of the killings happened. Both scenes rendered me speechless. But really, there are too many breathtaking moments to mention in this film. It's truly a film one must experience, I don't think my review does it justice as it barely scratch the surface of the depth of what's being depicted on screen. Harrowing, shocking, and at times unbearable to watch... but it's also surprisingly poetic and beautiful. There are few films out there that I'd call essential viewing, but I think this documentary is one of them.This incident isn't just about Indonesia, but it speaks volumes about our humanity and what we humans are capable of. I hope you'd check it out when it's out in your area or available to rent. Be sure to seek out the 159-min director cut whenever possible. I'm sincerely hoping that 'The Act of Killing' would get a nod for Best Documentary at the Oscars, as well as other kudos come award season.