Film Review: Enemies of the People

Director: Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath

A collaborative documentary between the British and the Cambodians as Thet Sambath looks to uncover the truth behind the Killing Fields orchestrated by the Khymer Rouge between 1975 and 1979, an estimated 1.7 million people are believed to have been killed by this ethnic cleansing. Thet Sambath lost his mother, father and brother to the killings then spent ten years trying to discover the truth about what happened.

In this frank documentary he speaks to many of the participants in the Killing Fields who want this terrible part of Cambodian history to be immortalized so that future generations do not forget. Sambeth meets Nuon Chea who was Pol Pot's deputy and over three years refused to having any part in the massacre but finally relented to having some involvement before he was arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The film looks at where the bodies were buried as well as the inhumane ways that many of the people were killed, the men express their remorse at what happened but the descriptions made are truly haunting.

Nuon Chea with Thet Sambath

The film caused a lot of controversy mainly for the graphic descriptions of the deaths of millions but mainly because the filmmakers refused to hand over the footage as evidence to the courts investigating the Killing Fields as it would breach the agreement they made with the men involved. The perpetrators agreed for their comments to go into the public domain as long as they weren't for the use of law enforcement agencies. The footage was then used after the film was officially released which got around the issue. Regardless of this legal issue, it was a hugely important piece to be committed to film for the years to come.

How Sambeth is so measured and calm throughout the movie is extraordinary, normally films of this nature are made by detached directors with an interest in the topic rather than someone with direct experience amongst their family. He hides his history with the genocide from the men he speaks with until after the event but in some cases his questioning and filmmaking is a little misleading and manipulative which is a slight detraction. But considering its such a taboo subject in Cambodia its shocking revelations and relentless search for the truth.

3.5/4 Haunting and truly astounding portrayal of genocide is just short of perfection.