The Act of Killing

What is the film about?

Film-makers traveled to Indonesia, recording a documentary about a group of gangsters that slaughtered Communists for a living. The documentary consists of the gang leader 'Anwar Congo' explaining his life of killing and directing his own movie to show what happened back when he was in the crime of torturing communists. (1965-1966)

Was there a scene that stood out to you? What was it and why?

At the end of the documentary there a was a scene where 'Anwar Congo' suddenly realized the horrific crimes he actually committed. This stood out for me as in the 1960's when the killings happened, he didn't think anything of it as that was the way of life for him and was taught that it was the right thing to do, however now reflecting back on his past he comprehends that everything he did was wrong. He felt even worse when he had to rein-act a scene for his movie of a communists about to get his head cut off with wire, this being something he used to do made him understand what they used to feel when he tortured them.

Did the Film- maker have a presence? How and in what capacity?

During the documentary, the people that participated kept referring to the director whilst it was being recorded (Joshua Oppenheimer). There was a brief scene where Josh asked a question to 'Anwar' however he contained no visual presence on the film at all.

What two honoured documentary film-makers had executive producer credits on the film?

Two of the world's most honored documentary filmmakers were credited in The Act of Killing, these were Werner Herzog and Errol Morris.

What was the follow up/"sequel" to the film? Find the title and describe what it is about.

A documentary named 'The Look of Silence' was the follow u to 'The Act of Killing'. From the same director 'Joshua Oppenheimer' this is about an optician that confronts the men who killed the brother he never knew during the 1960's Indonesian genocide.