One of our most anticipated documentaries of 2013, The Act of Killing heads to UK cinemas on June 28th. If you are heading to the Open City Docs Festival in London this June, you can catch an early preview of the film. Director Joshua Oppenheimer will take part in a Q&A following the screening on 22nd June at 1.30pm, and you can also catch him at a special masterclass event from 5pm on the same day.
In this chilling and inventive documentary, executive produced by Errol Morris and Werner Herzog, 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
For more information, head to theactofkilling.co.uk and follow the film on Facebook and Twitter: