First They Killed My Father is a harrowing adaptation of Loung Ung’s memoir of the same name, directed by Angelina Jolie. The film tells the true story of Ung’s childhood during the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, offering a deeply personal perspective on the horrors of war and genocide. While the movie effectively condenses the book’s events into a cinematic format, it inevitably loses some of the depth and graphic detail found in the memoir.
Ung’s book is unflinching in its portrayal of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge, vividly detailing the suffering and violence endured by her family and countless others. The film, while still intense, takes a more restrained approach, balancing the need for historical accuracy with the constraints of runtime and audience sensitivity. Jolie does an admirable job of maintaining the emotional core of Ung’s story, but the sheer magnitude of the trauma described in the book makes it impossible to capture everything on screen.
One of the movie’s greatest strengths is its commitment to authenticity. From the use of the Khmer language to the casting of Cambodian actors, First They Killed My Father remains true to the culture it represents. The cinematography is striking, immersing viewers in both the beauty of Cambodia and the devastation wrought by war. This authenticity makes the film an eye-opening experience, shedding light on a historical atrocity that, despite its scale, remains underrepresented in global discourse.
However, one notable omission is any explicit discussion of Pol Pot and the broader political context of the genocide. The film provides little background on how the Khmer Rouge rose to power or the ideological motivations behind their actions. While this choice aligns with the perspective of the story—told through the eyes of a child who would not have understood the political machinations—it also limits the film’s ability to educate audiences unfamiliar with the history. A brief epilogue or additional exposition could have provided valuable context without detracting from the film’s immersive and personal storytelling.
Despite this, First They Killed My Father remains a powerful and moving film. It successfully conveys the terror and uncertainty felt by victims of the Khmer Rouge while honoring their resilience. For those seeking a more in-depth understanding of this dark chapter in history, the book remains essential reading. But as a visual adaptation, the film stands as a poignant tribute to the lives lost and the enduring spirit of those who survived.