Movie recommendation: The Act of Killing

The Act of Killing is a spine-chilling film/documentary by Joshua Oppenheimer. An uncomfortable amalgamation of amazing musical numbers, interviews, and personal recollection - the The Act of Killing will both sicken you and glue you with an audacious thrill. You can watch the trailer here.

The film documents the Indonesian gangster Anwar Congo and his associates, re-enacting their major roll in the massacre of political dissidents after a military coup seized power in 1965. Together, the gangsters, the military, and private paramilitary groups launched a violent campaign against the Indonesian communist party (PKI), leftists, their supposed supporters, and the ethnic Chinese minority living in Indonesia - leading to the deaths of around 3 million people. This purge occurred amongst the backdrop of the transition from the progressive, democratically elected government who fought for Indonesia's independence from the Dutch, to the 30-year military dictatorship of President Suharto, a good friend of the Americans at the time.

Obviously, not the only or by any means the worst crime in human history, but what makes the film unique however, is the willingness of these people to return to the scenes of and re-enact their crimes. Demonstrating the efficiency of strangulation by wire in comparison to rope, and explaining how the rape of 14 year old girls is "Hell for them, but Heaven for me", puts this film on another level of discomfort than say, Schindlers List or The Killing Fields. Not only have these criminals have never been charged or punished, they are hailed as heroes and are currently living in what can only be described as absolute luxury.

All too often do people soak up Hollywood crap, not only in terms of writing but lazy churned out filming in general. The cinematography alone puts this film so far beyond so much that's come out recently. If you want to watch something worth your time, something where in every shot you can feel the dedication and care put into it, watch The Act of Killing.

Seriously, watch this fucking movie.