DocumentaryHistory
The Act of Killing
“A story of killers who win and the society they build.”
In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia's 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, Werner Herzog, André Singer
77
User score
766 votes
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Status
Released
Released
November 8, 2012
Runtime
2h 39m
Language
Indonesian
Budget → Revenue
$1M → $722.7K
Top cast
Anwar Congo
Self - Executioner in 1965
Herman Koto
Self - Gangster & Paramilitary Leader
Syamsul Arifin
Self - Governor of North Sumatra
Ibrahim Sinik
Self - Newspaper Publisher
Yapto Soerjosoemarno
Self - Leader of Pancasila Youth
Safit Pardede
Self - Local Paramilitary Leader
Jusuf Kalla
Self - Vice President of Indonesia
Adi Zulkadry
Self - Fellow Executioner in 1965
Suryono
Self - Anwar's Neighbor
Haji Marzuki
Self - Member of North Sumatra Parliament
Haji Anif
Self - Paramilitary Leader & Businessman
Rahmat Shah
Self - Member of Parliament
Sakhyan Asmara
Self - Deputy Minister of Youth & Sport
Soaduon Siregar
Self
