The Act of Killing
This is what an exorcism really looks like. Adults who try to teach children that they should think about consequences and consider they might have regret, use their words as examples of what it feels like. This documentary shows, really shows, what regret looks like. The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer, 2014) is a documentary that follows former Indonesian death squad leaders as they reenact their war crimes, the murders they committed. They reenact precisely how they captured, interrogated, and garroted their victims, the “communists”. This is THE most disturbing film I think I have ever seen; this is the BEST teaching tool I’ve ever seen for youth in terms of attitude and regret.
This is what an exorcism really looks like. Adults who try to teach children that they should think about consequences and consider they might have regret, use their words as examples of what it feels like. This documentary shows, really shows, what regret looks like. The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer, 2014) is a documentary that follows former Indonesian death squad leaders as they reenact their war crimes, the murders they committed. They reenact precisely how they captured, interrogated, and garroted their victims, the “communists”. This is THE most disturbing film I think I have ever seen; this is the BEST teaching tool I’ve ever seen for youth in terms of attitude and regret.
In this film we have the self-proclaimed “gangsters”, proud
of being such and sanctioned by a huge para-military faction established by the coup rulers and still in existence today, the Pancasila Youth. The gangsters identify themselves as heroes, characterized and
supported by the cinematic images of American films of their youth. They are
given an opportunity to tell their story through any medium they wish and they
choose to make a film. They expect to become famous; they already are famous
and revered in their home land. This film shows the thought processes of mass
murderers in reflection, from arrogance and self-aggrandizement to (for some
but not all) pensive and remorseful…almost.
The synopsis on the film's web site could not sum it up
better, however the potential for this film in middle and high school classes
is unspoken and evident to me. This film has purpose. At a developmental stage
where children appropriately depend on their peers, they do not have the
experience of regret to teach each other and are destined to have regrets, some
potentially deafening, unless they “get it”. This film can help students “get”
the impact of decision making to the “nth” degree, and demonstrates the process
of self-justification, and the consequences both globally and personally of harming
others in both minor and life-determining ways. Fortunately, for those who “get
it”, this film also demonstrates that one can exorcise their demons and
survive. Whether the students are children or adults, this last benefit is the
most crucial, and necessary lesson of this film.
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| Photo: Favim.com |
This is THE most disturbing film I can remember ever seeing
(other than The Exorcist.) This is the most important film I’ve seen. This film
is not as romantic as our idea of an exorcism might actually look like, but it
is the only real exorcism I’ve seen
portrayed. You must watch through to “get it”, but like any good film the cliff
hanger at the end leaves you wanting more, and in this case wondering “Did he really get it?”, and hoping he does, and
hoping I will get it too, when I exercise my own demons.
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| Photo: TheGermansMakeGoodStuff Quote: George Orwell, Animal Farm |
