![Poster for The Act of Killing](https://s3.amazonaws.com/nightjarprod/content/uploads/sites/189/2023/05/15043601/MV5BNmZjMDgyMDgtYWI4OS00YjZkLWEyODktNzE0MmViOTFjMDA4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTA4NzY1MzY%40._V1_.jpg)
The Act of Killing
Director: Christine Cynn, Joshua Oppenheimer Run Time: 167 min. Format: DCP Release Year: 2012 Language: Indonesian
Starring: Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Ibrahim Sinik, Syamsul Arifin, Yapto Soerjosoemarno
I got lucky enough to go to Jakarta one time. It’s a giant city and a truly sprawling metropolis and still the “western world” barely knows a thing about it. I played a show with 5 local punk bands and everyone honked horns instead of clapping – I’m sure not a sign of anything but just a weird side story. Look, this is a years in the making, once in a lifetime doc that explores not only fucked up systemic abuse, but examines and re-examines how the abuse was played out on both sides. A truly striking artwork that actually touches on both the humanity/inhumanity of it all and also the pomp and circumstance that seems to be able to make these things possible.