Review of First They Killed My Father (2017) by Tarekali — 17 Nov 2020

“First They Killed My Father” is a very difficult movie to watch. I had known much about the Cambodian genocide under the Khmer Rouge, nevertheless it was painful to slog through this tale, at points my emotion overcame me. The story is a quiet horror unfolding scene by scene, without much gore but with the stronger dread of helplessness in the face of a universal terror all around you. The true fear of this film is watching your beautiful world and family torn apart by forces over which you have absolutely no control. As a father I simply cannot imagine the strength of character it took for Leung’s parents to hold their family together with stoicism, courage and smiles in the face of such unimaginable horror.

Leung herself is a master class. You can see her struggle to hold onto her childhood and innocence as it is torn away from her, and even till the end she does not give in. Looking at this terrible dark chapter of human history through her eyes is a new perspective. Her wits, sharpness and determination were her ultimate survival skills. As the namesake of the movie, the moments when the parents were forever separated from their kids made me choke up in a way few movies have.

I am so glad this true story was told in an unfiltered manner, in the harsh depiction it deserves. To this day Cambodia has unhealed wounds, as the demons of the Khmer Rouge have been largely unpunished. In the outside world fresh horrors have unfolded since in Bosnia, Rwanda, Myanmar and now Xinjiang. The world continues to sit silent and observe. I will be eternally grateful to Angelina Jolie for her sheer masterful direction and support to bring this must see story to the big screen.