The 2014 BAFTA AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY IS WON BY THE ACT OF KILLING!
At a star studded ceremony in London tonight, Dogwoof's The Act of Killing went home with the BAFTA Award for Best documentary film, beating off stiff competition from The Armstrong Lie, Blackfish, Tim's Vermeer and We Steal Secrets: The Story of Wikileaks. Director Joshua Oppenheimer was in London to collect the award. Joshua thanked everyone who had worked on the film in the UK, Denmark and in Indonesia and talked about how the film is starting to catalyse a change for how Indonesia talks about its past, and asking governments to take responsibility. Joshua dedicated the award to his Anonymous Indonesian co-director.
In this chilling and inventive documentary, executive produced by Werner Herzog, Errol Morris and André Singer, 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 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 ask them to re-enact these murders for their 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 pyrotechnic, but eventually as the movie violence is played out and reconstructed, Anwar finally begins to feel unease and remorse.
Joshua Oppenheimer's The Act of Killing is now out on both DVD and Blu-ray. Both the DVD and Blu-ray come packed full of extras - including content from producers Errol Morris and Werner Herzog! The film is also now available to watch on iTunes and on Dogwoof.TV for members to watch.
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