Filmmaker Thet Sambath lost most of his family during the Pol Pot reign. Then his mother was forced to marry a Khmer Rouge soldier. As an adult, Sambath became obsessed with documenting as much as he could. He interviewed anyone that was willing to talk including former soldiers who spoke candidly about the people they killed on camera. But the real coup was gaining the trust of Brother Number Two (Pol Pot's second in command) over a three year courtship. Days before he was arrested for his crimes, Sambath got him to talk about the murders on camera.
The movie plays as an important historical document as well as a suspenseful drama. To gain Brother Number Two's trust, he deliberately delayed telling him the truth about how his family had died. The question looms over the entire movie - will Sambath ever let on to the truth? And if he does, how will Brother Number Two react?
This is one of the best documentaries of the past few years in its levity, uniqueness, and storytelling drama.
Directed by Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath
2010
PBS
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