Enemies of the People
Modern-day genocide may feel like a thing of the past, but in reality it's more prevalent now than it ever was. The current plight of the people in such countries as Sudan, Iran and Rwanda are all too real. "Enemies of the People" takes a look back at a not-so-distant past, focusing its lens on the Khmer Rouge — facilitators of Cambodian genocide in the 1970s.
Co-writer/director Thet Sambath journeys to find the truth behind the killings, a truth that has been kept tightlipped for decades. Many of the interviews conducted in the documentary are first-time confessions from the killers themselves and the higher authority who ordered the kills. The chilling nature of their brutality is truly horrifying. The vivid imagery in which the kills are detailed will run chills down your spine. The importance of the film as a whole is to create a recorded historic record upon which future generations can look back in memoriam.
Sambath also has a personal connection to the Khmer Rouge that makes the completion of this project even more important. Sambath's father, mother and brother were all killed at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, yet the poise and composure he manages to maintain throughout the documentary is truly inspiring. He's interviewing the very people who orchestrated the murder of his own family and yet he handles it with such professionalism. This documentary is a true testament to the human condition and the power of forgiveness. Above all though, it's a constant reminder of our society's true fragility. In the constructs of modern civilization, it's appalling to think that a single individual could bring upon the demise of millions of human lives.
The tour of the killing fields in their present-day state is all too reminiscent of what the German concentration camps look like today. The historical footage of the mass graves and the shear number of bodies that were piled up is just astonishing. However, the most compelling footage is that of Nuon Chea (Pol Pot's second in command) and the realizations he makes regarding his crimes against humanity. For a man who was in control during the mass genocide, his nonchalant demeanor is baffling, yet Sambath is able to extract some hard truths out of him that have not been revealed up till now. Nuon Chea's emotional reaction when he realizes that Sambath's family was killed by the Khmer Rouge is the climax of the documentary. It will leave you feeling positively rattled to your core. Stunning, gripping and horrifying, "Enemies of the People" is one of the most important documentaries in recent memory.
If you're wanting to learn more, the special features included with the DVD release are certainly plentiful. On Disc One alone, there is a featurette entitled "Anatomy of a Massacre" and a slew of deleted scenes. If that wasn't enough, Disc Two includes a director's Q&A, TV reports, filmmakers' commentaries, and much more. It truly is the all-inclusive set that this movie deserves.
Film: 4 Yaps Extras: 4.5 Yaps