Loung Ung as a child
Trips to the theater. Late night swims at the local club’s pool. Maids who came and cleaned on a daily basis. Forced out of your home. Both of your parents and two of your siblings killed. Forced to train as a soldier. And regularly starved and often beaten. All by the tender age of ten. This was the reality for Loung Ung.
First They Killed My Father is a Cambodian-American biographical film directed by American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian, Angelina Jolie. The film tells the story of the Cambodian genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. This national tragedy resulted in the systematic death of over two million Cambodians, or twenty five percent of Cambodia’s population. First They Killed My Father is an adaptation from the memoir of Loung Ung, and is told from her point of view.
Loung Ung and other child soldiers learning how to use a gun
In this biographical film, Loung Ung is portrayed by Sareum Srey Moch. The young actress will leave viewers greatly impressed due to her talent. Although she is young, Srey Moch is a highly remarkable actress and is skilled enough to deliver an emotionally powerful performance throughout each scene of the film. Sareum Srey Moch embodied the child soldier in a way that will leave members of the audience speechless.
The most refreshing aspect about First They Killed My Father is how authentic the film is. Not only did Angelina Jolie both direct and produce the film, she creates a work that encompasses the very essence of what it was like to be a Cambodian during the Cambodian genocide. The film’s use of native speaking Cambodian actors and real life survivors of the Cambodian genocide was incredibly rhetorically effective.
Khmer Rouge forcing thousands of Cambodians out of their homes
There are many scenes in this film that show the direct execution of Cambodian men, women, and children. Therefore, this film is not recommended for any individual who is faint of heart. When soldiers of the Khmer Rouge are not directly killing off Cambodians, their land mines are; most of the land mines are set by child soldiers. The scattered body parts of thousands of Cambodians who find themselves caught right in the middle of a land mine when fleeing from gunfire may be challenging to watch for some viewers.
Although First They Killed My Father is a rather difficult film to watch, this biographical film is nothing short of a masterpiece and deserves a rating of five out of five stars. Director and producer, Angelina Jolie, did a magnificent job in her adaptation of Loung Ung’s memoir recounting the time she spent as a child soldier under the Khmer Rouge during the Cambodian genocide.
Loung Ung and other children training
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