A hard hitting movie especially for those who have read or heard about the Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia. The movie starts with the American troops withdrawing from Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge military enters the city. A government official is forced to abandon his house and flee with his children including 7-year-old Loung Ung. Fearing his life, he denies working for the government and works with his family in the camp. The film is about the hardship faced by Loung. Angelina Jolie shines as a seasoned director. It is not easy to direct a film in a new language about a culture and history that you were not a part of. The film is so real and the acting is top class. The shots, the photography and the overall making stand out. You feel lucky that you were not in Cambodia at that time and that’s all credit to the film maker. With a run time of almost 140min, the film is a bit long and hence some scenes appear stretched.
