Reviews

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  ★★★★ review by Ken Rudolph on Letterboxd

  In 1971, the Khmer Rouge was in the process of taking over Cambodia by force and instituting what became the "killing fields." This film is the based-on-a-true story of François Bizot, a French ethnologist (beautifully portrayed by Raphäel Personnaz) who is captured by the rebels and imprisoned for several years as a CIA spy, until finally a Khmer soldier named Duch believes his innocence and he is released. However that is only the start of a long journey which ultimately culminates in the revelation that Bizot's savior was an accused torturer and executor of thousands. The film is both a horrifying prisoner story, and a fascinating political parable of good and evil which spans 30 years. Director Régis Wagoner has created an authentic, horrifying, personalized depiction of one of the bleakest eras of the 20th century.

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  ★★★★ review by bastien03r5 on Letterboxd

  Réaliste, prenant, bouleversant, très bien joué, c'est une plongée dans l'histoire, dans l'avènement khmer rouge et dans la tête du bourreau Douch. Indispensable pour le Cambodge.

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  ★★★½ review by Ed Scheid on Letterboxd

  Director Regis Wargnier gives his film based on true incidents about a Frenchman imprisoned by the Khymer Rouge in Cambodia a strong atmosphere and mounting tension. An intriguing aspect is the relationship of the prisoner to one of his captors.

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