The Act of Killing + Q&A

★★★★★ 'Almost every frame is astonishing' The Guardian
★★★★★ 'Like no movie seen before' Financial Times
★★★★★ Film of the Week, Time Out
★★★★ 'Without question one of the most horrifying films I've ever seen' The Independent

A screening of the Oscar nominated The Act of Killing (115 min feature length version, not the director's cut) followed by a Q&A with director Joshua Oppenheimer, hosted by ICA Film and Cinema Co-ordinator Nico Marzano.

In this chilling and inventive documentary, produced by Errol Morris and Werner Herzog, the unrepentant former members of Indonesian death squads are challenged to re-enact some of their many murders in the style of the American movies they love.

In the 1960's Anwar Congo was a leader in Indonesia's pro-regime paramilitary the Pancasila Youth who, along with his band of dedicated followers, was amongst those who participated in the murder and torture of more than a million alleged Communists, ethnic Chinese and intellectuals. Proud of their deeds and completely unpunished, Anwar and his pals are delighted when the film's director ask them to re-enact these murders for their documentary - in any genre they desire. Initially Anwar and his friends enthusiastically take up the challenge using hired actors, making elaborate sets and costumes and even using pyrotechnics, but eventually as the movie violence is played out and reconstructed, Anwar finally begins to feel unease and remorse.

Winner: Special Jury Prize, Sheffield Documentary Festival 2013