First They Killed My Father (2017)

Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung recounts the horrors she suffered as a child under the rule of the deadly Khmer Rouge.

Director:

Angelina Jolie

Writers:

Loung Ung (screenplay by), Angelina Jolie (screenplay by)

Stars:

Sareum Srey Moch, Phoeung Kompheak, Sveng Socheata

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 9 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sareum Srey Moch	...	Loung Ung
Phoeung Kompheak	...	Pa Ung
Sveng Socheata	...	Ma Ung
Mun Kimhak	...	Kim
Heng Dara	...	Meng
Khoun Sothea	...	Khouy
Sarun Nika	...	Geak
Run Malyna	...	Chaou
Oun Srey Neang	...	Keav
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Horm Chhora
Henry Kissinger	...	Self (archive footage)
Richard Nixon	...	Self (archive footage)
Mony Ros	...	(as Ros Mony)
Tharoth Sam	...	Khmer Rouge Leader
Nout Sophal	...	(as Nuth Sophal)

Storyline

In the 70's, a Cambodian middle-class girl sees the lives of her family and her turning upside-down when the Khmer Rouge invades the Cambodia. They leave their comfortable apartment and lifestyle to live in a primitive working camp. Her father, a former officer, is killed and the family splits to survive.

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Plot Keywords:

genocide | communism | communist utopia | crime against humanity | mass murder | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Khmer rouge soldier got captured and surrounded by the people is indeed the real Khmer rouge soldier at the time.

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Goofs

When Luong is watching three men carrying a body on a stretcher, the body has its chest uncovered but in the next scene is covered by a red-and-white piece of cloth.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Richard Nixon: [on broadcast TV] Cambodia, a small country of 7 million people, has been a neutral nation since the Geneva agreement of 1954. American policy since then has been to scrupulously respect the neutrality of the Cambodian people.
British Reporter: [standing with troops] The Vietnamese armies on the south side of the river appear to be indifferent to the contest.
Cambodian Politician: Under the pretext that there is a war necessity, they come into Cambodia.
Field Reporter: Are you glad to be in Cambodia?
Soldier: Negative. No.
Radio Reporter: The principle casualties ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in 75th Golden Globe Awards (2018)

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Soundtracks

Alfred Santos
written and Performed by Robin Foster, published by Upton Park Music Publishing

User Reviews

Short review with no spoilers!

I saw this in Olympic Stadium earlier this year. The sets and costumes were terrific, as was the cinematography. I wasn't a big fan of the book that it was based on, but it was apparent that a lot of effort had gone into making the film adaptation historically accurate. The film is deliberately understated, and rather than showing much violence or gore, it instead has this implicit threat running below the surface. It's definitely worth seeing!

Details

Country:

Cambodia USA

Language:

Khmer English French

Release Date:

15 September 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers

Filming Locations:

Cambodia

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Netflix, Bophana Production, Jolie Pas Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1