The documentary world got turned on its ear with this unusual, risk-taking film from last year. In Joshua Oppenheimer's portrayal of unrepentant evil, gangsters who participated in the extermination of Communists in 1960's Indonesia are challenged by the filmmakers to re-enact their murders in the movie genre of their choosing. Main character Anwar Congo and the other murderers were devout fans of American cinema and they seem to be very eager to take up the director on this offer. We witness pastiches from Westerns, 1930's crime pictures and others, all with the gangsters portraying the role of the killer...that is until the end, when Anwar experiences the brutality from the other side. "The Act of Killing" was executive produced by Werner Herzog and Errol Morris, and their endorsement is no fluke. This film is disturbing, though-provoking and ultimately very moving. It is also Andrew's favorite film of 2013.
SPOILER ALERT: Near the end of this podcast, Phil and Andrew discuss the climactic scene from "The Act of Killing." They will warn you before doing so in the episode.
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