The Act of Killing

In 1965, the Indonesian government was overthrown.  The government hired a group of gangsters to get rid of the opposition.  The gangsters became the most notorious death squad and are still prominent figures in Indonesia.  The gangsters, led by Anwar Congo, are proud to boast about their deeds and aren't worried about repercussion.

Director Joshua Oppenheimer invites the gangsters to talk about their experiences and reenact their killings in any way want.  He films their filmmaking experiences... and how the different gangsters handle reliving their past.


An interesting documentary... a brutal and honest look at men who have killed thousands of people.  They each view the acts in different ways, some are haunted by it and others try to justify it.  But do any of them feel remorse.  It is difficult to watch some scenes, such as their depictions of the murders along with detailed descriptions of the experience.  These scenes are interspersed with surreal moments, such as the dancers and waterfalls.

Over 50 years later and these men are still in power and wield a certain amount of fear.  It is interesting to watch the reactions of the people around them, and the fear that you can still see on their faces.

The film drew criticism for failing to talk more about the history of the 1965 uprising.  Regardless, it is a fascinating documentary, where the subjects talk freely with each other and Oppenheimer's team as they film.  I can't decide how I feel about it... but I'm not sorry I watched it.

EDIT: In 2014, Oppenheimer made a follow-up / companion film titled The Look of Silence. 

The Act of Killing (2013) 115 minutes
Director: Joshua Oppenheimer
Starring: Anwar Congo
Herman Koto