Praise, fears for Act of Killing director

Director Joshua Oppenheimer says he can't safely return to Indonesia after filming the award-winning documentary The Act of Killing.

A co-director of BAFTA-winning documentary The Act of Killing fears he will never be able to return to Indonesia as the hard-hitting documentary has put his life at risk.

The movie shocked audiences with first-hand accounts of the murder and torture of alleged Communists in the 1960s as it is told from the perspective of unflinching killers.

One of the moviemakers behind the film has chosen not to reveal his name over fears of reprisals, and co-director Joshua Oppenheimer fears he also faces the prospect of retaliation if he sets foot back in the country.

"I would love to be able to go back," Oppenheimer told the BBC. "The film is, in a way, my love letter to Indonesia.

"At the same time one of the saddest things for me about releasing the film is that I can't safely go back now."

The film, which was also directed by Christine Cynn, won the best documentary prize at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards ceremony on Sunday.

Oppenheimer paid tribute to the anonymous third director as he accepted the trophy, saying: "(He) risked his safety knowing that he could not stand with me to accept this award until there is major change in Indonesia".

The Act of Killing has been nominated for the best documentary feature prize at the 2014 Academy Awards, which will be held on March 2.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


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