'First they Killed my Father' Review
'First they Killed my Father' Review - 5/10
Netflix & Bophana Production (production services)
First they Killed my Father is a movie that shows us an innovative version of the troubled conflicts that terrorize Southeast Asia during the cold war.
Angelina Jolie and her crew use some of the influences of classical movies such as "full metal jacket", as we see a reflection of this mostly in the beginning of the film, and "Apocalypse Now" which is echoed in the bombardment scenes. Although they don’t use old ideas during the film as they bring to the viewer an inside perspective of the Cambodian conflict that subordinates the American or Soviet way of thinking, and elevates the national "guerrilla" to the centre of the narrative.
The physical pilgrimage of the characters from the capital to “Angkor” is accompanied by the various terrible situations that lead to the separation of the family throughout the story. Although it was, in fact, necessary to break out of the Hollywood rigidity so that it would have the opportunity to create a world focused on those who truly suffered innocently at the hands of two economic doctrines that are usually exposed in the films. The way in which the radical secularization of the new state of "Angkor" with the forced labour of the monks is shown as a strong point, which may go unnoticed by the less attentive observer.
The greatest purpose of the work thus emerges as a historical piece, describing the exteriorization of the Khmer Rouge support by the Cambodian population. However, throughout the story due to the lack of speeches of the main character and repetition of bombing scenes, it gives the sensation that we entered in a looping of “déjà vu” of the conflict that, although they make us develop a special compassion for the main character, to some extent it does make the film quite heavy and intense for anyone who just wants to have a good time. It leads me to say that the film would only have advantages in reducing its duration by about 15 minutes, especially by removing one or two scenes from military training that, happens too often throughout the film.
It is a work of a lot of historical stiffness and originality, for anyone interested in Southeast Asia its great, as it resembles a documentary (also due to the book that it intends to portray, written by Luong Ung), nevertheless, it is a great first experience of a big film directed by Angelina Jolie and presents itself as a good omen for the continuation of a solid career. The audacity with which the aerial plans are realized is from someone who knows what they are doing, and her new career is to be followed closely.
Thank you to Netflix for allowing me to view the movie.
Signed,
B
