Between the Lines Follow-up Event: The Act of Killing + Q&A at the ICA

This is an external event taking place at the ICA: the screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Joshua Oppenheimer.

In this chilling and inventive documentary, produced by Errol Morris and Werner Herzog, the unrepentant former members of Indonesian death squads are challenged to re-enact some of their many murders in the style of the American movies they love.

In the 1960′s Anwar Congo was a leader in Indonesia’s pro-regime paramilitary the Pancasila Youth who, along with his band of dedicated followers, was amongst those who participated in the murder and torture of more than a million alleged Communists, ethnic Chinese and intellectuals. Proud of their deeds and completely unpunished, Anwar and his pals are delighted when the film’s director asks them to re-enact these murders for the documentary – in any genre they desire. Initially Anwar and his friends enthusiastically take up the challenge using hired actors, making elaborate sets and costumes and even using pyrotechnics, but eventually as the movies violence is played out and reconstructed, Anwar finally begins to feel unease and remorse.

Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer
Year: 2013
duration: 159′

Between the Lines was a three-day festival that took place at Rich Mix from 1 to 3 March. In a series of follow-up events we continue to explore the challenges facing documentary makers, investigative journalists and citizen reporters in the new media landscape.

This screening is in association with Picturehouse Docs and Tapol

Presented by:

 

Supported by: