Following on from the BAFTA win for Best Documentary for Joshua Oppenheimer's film The Act of Killing, a few cinemas have added extra screenings of the film this week, including a 35th consecutive week at the ICA cinema in London - you can find a full list of upcoming screenings here.
Today the film has also received further accolades, as The Guardian Film Awards have announced their shortlist of nominated films, voted for by readers. The Act of Killing is nominated for Best Film, Best Director and Biggest Gamechanger. And of course the film is nominated for the Best Documentary category at the Oscars... which will be announced on March 2nd.
In this chilling and inventive documentary, executive produced by Werner Herzog, Errol Morris and André Singer, the unrepentant former members of Indonesian death squads are challenged to re-enact some of their many murders in the style of the American movies they love. In the 1960’s Anwar Congo was a leader in Indonesia’s pro-regime paramilitary the Pancasila Youth who, along with his band of dedicated followers, was amongst those who participated in the murder and torture more than a million alleged Communists, ethnic Chinese and intellectuals. Proud of their deeds and completely unpunished, Anwar and his pals are delighted when the film’s director ask them to re-enact these murders for their documentary – in any genre they desire. Initially Anwar and his friends enthusiastically take up the challenge using hired actors, making elaborate sets and costumes and even using pyrotechnic, but eventually as the movie violence is played out and reconstructed, Anwar finally begins to feel unease and remorse.
Joshua Oppenheimer's The Act of Killing is now out on both DVD and Blu-ray. Both the DVD and Blu-ray come packed full of extras - including content from producers Errol Morris and Werner Herzog! The film is also now available to watch on iTunes and on Dogwoof.TV to watch.
For more information follow the film on Facebook and Twitter or visit www.TheActofKilling.co.uk