Review of The Act of Killing (2012) by Simon D — 13 Feb 2014

A terrifying examination of how the human mind can make peace with cruelty and sadism, and of the consequences of reliving one's past crimes. By having Indonesian paramilitary gangsters (or "free men," as they chillingly insisted on calling themselves) recreate through cinematic tools past acts of genocide, director Joshua Oppenheimer showcases both the malleability and fragility of human consciousness, as well as the power of film to access and capture human experience.

While the inhumane acts perpetrated by the murderers interviewed in this film make "The Act of Killing" one of the most traumatizing films of 2014, the sincerity of those disturbing and conflicted testimonials (wondrous that Oppenheimer caught them onscreen!) also make this documentary one of the most human and emotionally affecting films of last year.