The Act of Killing
2012
Not currently streaming on CaSTV
Synopsis
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.
Key facts
Cast
Anwar Congo, Herman Koto, Syamsul Arifin, Ibrahim Sinik, Yapto Soerjosoemarno, Safit Pardede, Jusuf Kalla, Adi Zulkadry
Original language
Indonesian
First release
November 1, 2012 (Indonesia)
Awards
European Film Award for Best Documentary
Setting
Indonesia
Crew
Producer
Anne Köhncke, Christine Cynn, Joram ten Brink, Joshua Oppenheimer, Michael Uwemedimo, Signe Byrge Sørensen
Cinematography
Anonymous, Carlos Arango De Montis, Lars Skree
Editing
Ariadna Fatjó-Vilas, Charlotte Munch Bengtsen, Erik Andersson, Janus Billeskov Jansen, Mariko Montpetit, Nils Pagh Andersen
Québec / French
Québec classification
13 years and over
Content indications
Violence
Classification date
April 1, 2014
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2025 - Short
- Academy Awards 2014 academy_award
- Independent Spirit Awards 2014 generic - Best Documentary
- Berlin International Film Festival 2013 generic
- Seattle International Film Festival 2013 generic
- SXSW Film Festival 2013 generic
- CPH:DOX 2012 generic - CPH:DOX Award (winner) ★ CPH:DOX Award
- Toronto International Film Festival 2012 generic
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Indonesia | November 1, 2012 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | November 7, 2012 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | June 28, 2013 |
| Theatrical | United States | July 19, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Spain | August 30, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Australia | September 5, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Norway | September 6, 2013 |
| Theatrical | New Zealand | September 12, 2013 |
| Theatrical | France | October 4, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | October 10, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Italy | October 17, 2013 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | November 4, 2013 |
| Streaming | United Kingdom | November 25, 2013 |
| Streaming | Indonesia | December 17, 2013 |
| Television | Netherlands | December 19, 2013 |
| Streaming | United States | January 7, 2014 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | January 17, 2014 |
| Theatrical | Germany | February 20, 2014 |
| Theatrical | Poland | February 28, 2014 |
| Television | Norway | March 7, 2014 |
| Theatrical | Japan | April 12, 2014 |
| Theatrical | Hong Kong | October 23, 2014 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | November 20, 2014 |
| Theatrical | Greece | May 12, 2017 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 15 |
Versions & editions
| Original version (English) |
Full credits
| Director | Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn, Anonymous |
| 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) |
| Producer | Anne Köhncke, Christine Cynn, Joram ten Brink, Joshua Oppenheimer, Michael Uwemedimo, Signe Byrge Sørensen |
| Executive producer | André Singer, Bjarte Mørner Tveit, Errol Morris, Joram ten Brink, Torstein Grude, Werner Herzog |
| Cinematography | Anonymous, Carlos Arango De Montis, Lars Skree |
| Editing | Ariadna Fatjó-Vilas, Charlotte Munch Bengtsen, Erik Andersson, Janus Billeskov Jansen, Mariko Montpetit, Nils Pagh Andersen |
| Sound | Elin Øyen Vister |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec (CC0-1.0)
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
