The Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia attempted to end the class war in the most emphatic fashion, namely by ending the existence of the higher social classes. It evacuated the cities and attempted to construct a peasant nation, forcing so- called intellectuals into brutal work camps. In additionally intentionally killing anyone it identified as an enemy, it moreover brought famine upon those it did not intend to kill (though population reduction was arguably a goal in itself). Few if any other governments are responsible for the deaths of so many of their populations. The story was told famously in 'The Killing Fields', shot shortly after the overthrow of the regime, but Angelica Jolie has now made a new movie about this era, based on the testimony of a survivor. On one hand, 'First They Killed My Father' boldly eschews Hollywood-style narratives; on the other, it also eschews much in the way of explanation. A series of bad things happen to the daughter of a previously prosperous family, and that's all. Without the narrative, one feels this might have been better had it been shot as a documentary reconstruction. It would also have been interesting to learn more about what enabled the rise of the Khmer Rouge and what led Cambodia down such an awful path: the only answer we get is American bombing, but in Vietnam, for example, there was an orthodox communist regime that did not resort to pure genocide. As it is, the film is a worthwhile reminder of what awful things humans can do to each other; but not completely compelling as either story or history.
Review of First They Killed My Father
