First They Killed My Father (2017)

 

                “First They Killed My Father” is a film that Angelina Jolie (“Unbroken”) co-wrote and directed.  It is based on the memoir by Loung Ung.  Jolie, who has been a Cambodian citizen since 2005 (her adopted son Maddox is from Cambodia), made the film in Cambodia with an all-Cambodian cast.  The dialogue is Khmer.  It took 60 days and $24 million.  It was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. 

                Luong (Sreymoch Samoch) is a seven-year-old girl living a middle class life in Phnom Penh.  Her father is in the military.  This cushy life comes crashing down when the Khmer Rouge comes to town. Her family is forced to evacuate to a camp.  Her father manages to conceal his identity -  for a while.  Eventually (the movie is unclear about how much time is passing) the family is divided.  Luong ends up a child soldier.

                “First They Killed My Father” is dedicated to all the Cambodians who lost their lives to the Khmer Rouge.  This is the same atrocity that shapes “The Killing Fields”.  It may be a true story, but the problem is the movie is not horrific enough and has a happy ending that dilutes the theme.  The Khmer Rouge do not come off as particularly evil.  For instance, there are two separate incidents where kids steal food, but nothing happens to them.  In a country known for its monsoons, it seldom rains in the film.  The people do not face starvation.  This may be true to the memoir, but it makes for a film that seems to pull its punches.  You keep waiting for tears to be jerked, but it never happens.  The movie sets up things and then does not deliver.  The opening implies that America is to blame for the situation, but that theme is not pursued.  Similarly, her time as a soldier is not covered.  Another weakness is the movie has problems with unrealistic coincidences.  She and her brother and sister are twice reunited in unbelievable ways.  The critics must have overlooked such cinematic faux pas because the movie is well-directed and the cinematography is mesmerizing.  The cast is adequate with Samoch being photogenic, but lacks the range to do a variety of emotions. It’s a movie that you hesitate to criticize.  In this respect it reminds me of other child soldier movies like “Beasts of No Nation” and “War Witch”.  The trio are decent movies, but none are great.  The best is still “Ivan’s Childhood”.

GRADE  =  C+