First They Killed My Father

2017
TV-MA
2h 16m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

21K

YOUR RATING

Sareum Srey Moch in First They Killed My Father (2017)

'First They Killed My Father' is the adaptation of Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung's gripping memoir of surviving the deadly Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1978. The story is told through her eyes, from the age of five, when the Khmer Rouge came to power, to nine years old. The film depicts the indomitable spirit and devotion of Loung and her family as they struggle to stay together during the Khmer Rouge years.

Play trailer1:45

2 Videos

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Biography Drama History War

Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung recounts the horrors she suffered as a child under the rule of the deadly Khmer Rouge.Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung recounts the horrors she suffered as a child under the rule of the deadly Khmer Rouge.Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung recounts the horrors she suffered as a child under the rule of the deadly Khmer Rouge.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

21K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 9 wins & 29 nominations total

Self
(archive footage)

Richard Nixon

Self
(archive footage)

Sreyneath Reth

Khmer Rouge Teacher

Tiger Reth

Khmer Rouge Leader

Mony Ros

Tharoth Sam

Khmer Rouge Leader

Nut Sophal

Lon Nol

Self
(archive footage)
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Based on the deadly rule of the Khmer Rouge, a communist inspired movement led by the dictator Pol Pot, under which an estimated 25% of the Cambodian population died from malnutrition, forced labour and mass murder from 1975 until 1979. This historical event is today known as the Cambodian genocide.

Goofs
From 1975 to 1979, people had only skin cover their bone due to heavily overwork and starvation. Most of the scenes from movie show people still healthy with no lack of food or nutrient.

Quotes
[first lines]
Richard Nixon: [on broadcast TV] Cambodia, a small country of 7 million people, has been a neutral nation since the Geneva agreement of 1954. American policy since then has been to scrupulously respect the neutrality of the Cambodian people.
British Reporter: [standing with troops] The Vietnamese armies on the south side of the river appear to be indifferent to the contest.
Cambodian Politician: Under the pretext that there is a war necessity, they come into Cambodia.
Field Reporter: Are you glad to be in Cambodia?
Soldier: Negative. No.
Radio Reporter: The principle casualties appear to be innocent Cambodians.
Henry Kissinger: [at podium] ... the occasional difficulties in reaching a final solution.
Richard Nixon: What we are doing is to help the Cambodians help themselves. This is *not* an invasion of Cambodia.
French Reporter: The Nixon Doctrine for Southeast Asia appears to have failed. The war that began in Vietnam has now engulfed Cambodia. There is anger and frustration at the US bombings. Thousands of lives lost. Farms and livelihoods destroyed.

Connections
Featured in 75th Golden Globe Awards (2018)

Soundtracks
Alfred Santos
Written and performed by Robin Foster
Published by Upton Park Music Publishing

User reviews123

Review

Featured review

8/10

An incredibly moving story seen through the eyes of a child

A movie based on Long Ung's autobiography about her childhood memories as a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge regime. First they Killed my Father is an incredibly moving story. The camera angles are set low and at times the story seems slow, and throughout has little dialogue, but in the end this works well in telling this story from a child's perspective.

I did not expect that I would have been so emotional after watching this movie. And several times, I found myself revisiting both the troubling and precious moments portrayed in the film. Perhaps it's because my earliest memories of television are news film of war in Indochina, and the opening scenes briefly show Long Ung standing beside a black and white television, with similar vision playing while the Khmer Rouge are marching down the streets outside. I found myself trying to compare my childhood to hers. For me this alone is powerful. Don't expect any big history questions to be answered or seek to ask who's responsible, this isn't needed to see this story as it would have been seen through the eyes of a child.