The Act of Killing

Festival Favorites
D: Joshua Oppenheimer

History is written by the winners. Sometimes, like after Indonesia’s atrocity-laden reign of terror during the 1960s, that’s because the losers are dead. Texas-born Oppenheimer (with co-directors Christine Cynn and “Anonymous”) dares former death-squad leaders even further: to re-enact their crimes in their own feature film, while he films a “making of”-style documentary. These are grifters, robbers, and thugs recast as national heroes. In their surreal fantasy, they portray themselves as Cagney-style suave gangsters, surrounded by dancing girls, yet the audience recognizes them as monstrous criminals. In that tension lies the film’s enthralling, despairing heart. Seek no confessional here: A boast comes with no sense of shame. Instead, Oppenheimer gently lures these despots into the most dangerous of places: their victims’ shoes. Will they feel guilt, or empathy, or just reminisce like old men swapping golfing stories? Those reactions reveal the true nature of this undeniably significant film: a human rights trial disguised as a searing and disturbing documentary.

Thursday, March 14, 8pm, Violet Crown

This article appears in March 15 • 2013.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.