the act of killing - an unforgettable film seen at nziff 2014
directed by joshua oppenheimer about indonesian death squads
formed in the late 1960's after the military coup to squash opposition
students, farmers, intellectuals and more labelled communists and killed
one million people wiped out by death squads associated with the military
that film showing prior members acting out their brutal ways for the camera
their lack of remorse and assimilation into modern society most disturbing
this film a companion piece though more aligned to the victim's families
the opening scene shows two of a death squad bragging of their kills
cutting back to show an indonesian man watching this on a small tv
we then are in the house of an elderly woman washing her husband
he blind, deaf, frail and childlike as she tells her story of her son ramil
taken by the death squad and hacked but he escapes to his parents house
next day the military offer to take him to hospital but is instead brutally killed
then we are in a classroom with a teacher spouting propaganda to his students
explaining the need for the military to wipe out the evil and barbaric communists
one of the students is the son of adi - the optometrist shown in the opening scene
father then telling his son the facts of the murders and then aother connection is made
we see adi visiting his parents - yes - the old couple who lost their son to the squads
ramil an older brother killed before adi was born - he an answer to her prayers
some touching moments as adi checks his parents eyesight and bathes his dad
at which point i am sensing i am watching one incredibly emotional film
more so as adi then spends time with one of his brother's murderers
still living in the village amongst families of people who were killed
initially adi offers his services as an optometrist but then questions him
at first he speaks freely and openly of his deeds and shows no remorse
describing in sordid detail the way their victims were brutally killed
the same shamelessness as seen in the prior film the act of killing
but if possible even more chilling with an extra dimension here
not only the presence of a close relation but more gruesome details
drinking of blood gushing from victims throats a common practice
a ritual believed to ward off the craziness that may set in otherwise
i am stunned and can only wonder what reaction adi has to this detail
but he remains impressively calm apart from a quickened breathing
and then it is the murderer who becomes incensed at the questioning
suggesting he is tired of talking politics and will talk no further of it
adi then seen completing the eye test using his special testing glasses
and unbelievably offering to deliver the glasses as soon as they are ready
if there is a better scene in any film about forgiveness then let me see it
but there's more - adi's uncle is exposed as having sided with the military
acting as a guard of people captured and then driven away to their deaths
adi bluntly telling him he is partly responsible for his own nephews murder
but again no contrition - and again no anger or vengeance coming from adi
his mother shocked at the news of her brother but she too seems forgiving
and then another interview with a death squad member with his daughter
more talk of blood-drinking rituals and his loving daughter now shocked
all three of them seen embracing in the horror of what has transpired
i am numbed and fully absorbed by what is unfolding on the screen
as adi returns to his family his wife admonishes him for his actions
he finally seen watching the murderers bragging on his small tv
powerful stuff - director joshua oppenheimer has pulled it off
delivery a sequel of equal intensity to his stunning first film
here mixing in a human element that ramps up the effect
and clearly questioning the darkness of the human spirit
but equally demonstrating the importance of forgiveness
and education...and family...and compassion...and love...
