Educational Media Reviews Online

The film opens with the producer and narrator, Dr. Blake Kerr, discussing the impetus behind his decision to explore the effects of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. As Kerr himself says, this is a “do it yourself investigation” and sometimes feels as much like a travel narrative as a documentary. Initially compelling, the film seems to lose focus by the end.

Kerr begins his trip by visiting a genocide museum, complete with photographs and illustrations of torture victims, and then one of the countless killing fields found throughout the country. He explains that those targeted for torture and execution were, at first, people with an education or the ability to speak languages other than Khmer. Those who carried out the tortures and executions were generally around fourteen years old, child soldiers. He proceeds to interview torture survivors and former soldiers. Throughout the film, it becomes apparent that while the Khmer Rouge has not controlled the government for years, former members of the regime still have much influence. Everyone interviewed was afraid, and that fear infects Kerr.

When Kerr asks those he interviews how the Khmer Rouge gained power or why they joined, they refuse to give him the answer he seems to want: that it was a direct reaction against U.S. bombings. Instead, they say that America is a good friend that can help the poverty-stricken country recover. This mindset may in part be explained later, when Kerr shares that the U.S. provided financial and military support to the Khmer Rouge throughout the 1980s, or by a clip from a press conference shown on Cambodian television in which President Bush threatens to destroy any nation with anti-American sentiments. Kerr’s preoccupation with American involvement with the Khmer Rouge prevents him from exploring contemporary Cambodian politics and society in any depth.

The picture and sound quality are good. The film is narrated in English, with English subtitles provided when necessary. The narrator sometimes speaks very quickly, and does not always enunciate clearly. There is very little historical background provided, but the film does include some nicely done maps showing Kerr’s travel route and some well-placed archival footage.

While it would not be appropriate for viewers without some prior understanding of the Pol Pot regime and Cambodian history, it does provide some very powerful images and interviews with former Khmer Rouge leaders. Due to its sometimes graphic nature, it may not be suitable for children. Recommended for colleges or public libraries with a focus on Southeast Asia, genocide, or human rights.