This is the only movie I have every watched that I have ever wanted to scream at. The (actors? murderers?) enjoy reenacting and reminiscing so much it's sickening. One of the most powerful moments was when the man responsible for leading the paramilitary organization responsible said that killing people with piano wire was the most "humane" way to exterminate the communists and that they didn't want to look like bloodthirsty animals on the film (or something to this extent). I love absurd movies, especially violent or shocking ones. But when you know it's all real - the murders, the torture, the smiles as they reenact it all - it's completely different.
[spolier]Anwar looks like he finally starts to realize at the end what he did was wrong, but he won't even say for sure. He seems so conflicted.[/spolier]
At any rate, it's a slow burn but very much worth a watch. If you ever need a movie that's the perfect definition for the "banality of evil" this is it. Hang around, make a movie, smoke a cigar, casually talk about how much you enjoy raping 14 year old girls and genocide on camera. There are more of these moments, too many to list. Watch this film.
(Director's Cut)
2 / 2 directing & technical aspect
2 / 2 story
1 / 1 act I
1 / 1 act II
1 / 1 act III
1 / 1 writing
1 / 1 originality
1 / 1 lasting ability to make you think
0 / 1 misc
10 out of 10
This is so different. I don't know what and how to feel after watching this documentary.
Shout by sp1tiVIP OG 13BlockedParent2013-06-09T20:07:46Z
A truely unique documentary. Not only does the director talk to some of the people responsible for mass murders of commies in Indonesia but he also enlists them in a project to make a movie about their experiences. They then go on and even mix together diffrent genres (musicals, ganster film, etc.) for their story. This gives it a rather surreal vibe but it underlines the thinking of the perpetrators. The way they openly - without regret - talk about their past actions is disturbing. Needless to say there is a climax to the movie and it's all captured with just the camera rolling. I now might also know how "sick to the stomach" sounds like. Well worth for some astonishing scenes and it only occasionally drags on.
As of now, there seem to be three different versions: a 115 minute cut for the festival release, a directors cut of 159 minutes (the one I watched and belive is really the real one (matches RT)) and another one that is unfinished and apperantly is shared in Indonesia (official screenings are not permitted there). The last one has some credits/scenes in it which were removed for the "proper" release for security reasons (many credits have been listed as anon).