Enemies of the People
Rob Lemkin, Thet Sambath:
Enemies of the People (UK, Cambodia, 2010)
93 min. - English, Khmer - English subtitles
Age limit 16 years
The reign of the extreme nationalist party Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, one of the most infamous dictators in today€s world, was brutal. Between 1975 and 1979 approximately 1.5 million Cambodians were killed in the €fields of death€ €“ most of them in the most horrifying and cruel way. Yet, the excuses for the genocide have remained a mystery. Until now.
Reporter Thet Sambath lost his family during the reign of the Red Khmers, and Enemies of the People is his way of finding out why. In addition to finding answers to his loss, Sambath seeks to find out the reasons for the tragedy in his homeland. In the film, men and women behind the genocide €“ from soldiers to ideological leaders of the party €“ tell the truth about the horrendous times. Nuon Chea, Pol Pot€s €brother number two€, also talks to the cameras, being the first Red Khmer leader to publically admit the murders. And to talk about their reasons.
Enemies of the People is an intense documentary about one of the darkest times in the history of the world and Cambodia€s efforts to move past all of it. Many Cambodians think that nothing good can come out of talking to murderers and returning to past horrors, but Sambath disagrees. He built trust with his interviewees for a whole decade before they agreed to give him his long-needed answers. The people Sambath interviews have sacrificed a lot to admit the truth and thus performed the only good deed they can. And when it comes to this horrific madness, even this is a step towards humanity.
Come, see and be shaken.
Sun 18th Nov at 1:30pm Tapio 3