Directed by Angelina Jolie and based on the memoir by Loung Ung, “First They Killed My Father” is a hauntingly beautiful and deeply personal account of survival during the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Jolie’s sensitive direction and Loung Ung’s firsthand experience come together to create a visceral, immersive, and unforgettable film that captures the horrors of war and genocide through the eyes of a child.
Set in 1975, the film follows 5-year-old Loung Ung (Played by Sareum Srey Moch), whose world is torn apart when the Khmer Rouge seize control of Cambodia. Loung’s father Ung Eng (Phoeung Kompheak), is a high-ranking government official which places their family in grave danger. Forced to flee their comfortable life in Phnom Penh, Loung, along with her parents and six siblings, attempts to blend in with peasants in the countryside. As the Khmer Rouge tighten their brutal grip, the family is separated. Loung is sent to a children’s labor camp where she is indoctrinated and trained to be a soldier, while suffering from malnutrition and psychological trauma. Despite her age, Loung’s resilience and resourcefulness allow her to survive one of the most horrific genocides of the 20th century. Through her young, observant eyes, we experience the loss, fear, and fragmented innocence that defined the time and era.
“First They Killed My Father” is a masterclass in empathy, acting, and storytelling. Jolie makes the deliberate choice to tell this story almost entirely through the perspective of Loung. We are often at Loung’s eye level, seeing what she sees, feeling confusion and terror as her world disintegrates. This child’s point of view makes the horrors of the genocide more impactful and intimate, rather than distant or clinical. Sareum Srey Much delivers an extraordinary performance. Her portrayal of Loung is heartbreaking in its authenticity, communicating deep emotion often without dialogue. Her expressive body language conveys fear, defiance, and pain, drawing the audience into her experience without sentimentality or melodrama.
The supporting cast is equally as strong. Phoeung Kompheak as Loung’s father brings dignity and warmth to his role while Sveng Socheata, who plays Loung’s mother, embodies quiet strength and maternal devotion. The family dynamics are tenderly portrayed, making their eventual separation all the more devastating. What makes this movie stand out is its authenticity. The entire cast is Cambodian, the entire dialogue is in Khmer, and the film was shot on location in Cambodia. Jolie’s collaboration with Loung Ung, who co-wrote the screenplay, ensures that the story maintains its personal truth and historical accuracy.
Final notes and thoughts: “First They Killed My Father” is a devastating yet necessary film that honors the resilience of the human spirit. It is a testament to the strength of survivors and a poignant reminder of a history that should never be forgotten. A beautifully directed and powerfully acted 5/5 film.
