The Act of Killing
A story of killers who win, and the society they build.
117 mins
In this chilling and groundbreaking documentary, former Indonesian death squad leaders reenact their real-life mass killings in the style of various film genres, from gangster epics to musicals. As they recreate their past atrocities, the line between reality and performance blurs, exposing the lingering impact of Indonesia’s 1965-66 anti-communist purge and the unsettling psychology of its perpetrators.
Anwar Congo
Self - Executioner in 1965
Herman Koto
Self - Gangster & Paramilitary Leader
Syamsul Arifin
Self - Governor of North Sumatra
Ibrahim Sinik
Self - Newspaper Publisher
Yapto Soerjosoemarno
Self - Leader of Pancasila Youth
Safit Pardede
Self - Local Paramilitary Leader
Jusuf Kalla
Self - Vice President of Indonesia
Adi Zulkadry
Self - Fellow Executioner in 1965
Suryono
Self - Anwar's Neighbor
Haji Marzuki
Self - Member of North Sumatra Parliament
Haji Anif
Self - Paramilitary Leader & Businessman
Rahmat Shah
Self - Member of Parliament
Sakhyan Asmara
Self - Deputy Minister of Youth & Sport
Soaduon Siregar
Self
Torstein Grude
Executive Producer
Anne Köhncke
Producer
Erik Andersson
Editor
Michael Uwemedimo
Producer
Elin Øyen Vister
Sound Designer
Helga Høegh-Krohn
Post-Production Manager
Ariadna Fatjó-Vilas
Editor
Signe Byrge Sørensen
Producer
Christopher Berge Hove
Visual Effects
Nils Pagh Andersen
Editor
Henrik 'Gugge' Garnov
Sound Editor
Lizzy Ratner
Associate Producer
Maria Kristensen
Post-Production Manager
Heidi Elise Christensen
Post-Production Manager
Mariko Montpetit
Editor
Joram ten Brink
Executive Producer
Bjarte Mørner Tveit
Executive Producer
Tom Christer Lilletvedt
Visual Effects
Maria Kristensen
Associate Producer
Carlos Arango De Montis
Director of Photography
Anonymous
Co-Director
Torstein Grude
Co-Producer
Tom Christer Lilletvedt
Colorist
Rosie Thomas
Thanks
Bjarte Mørner Tveit
Co-Producer
Joram ten Brink
Producer