Angelina Jolie’s heart-wrenching film about a girl’s quest for survival under the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia received a standing ovation when it debuted the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado.
And now, it will reach Australian viewers this month through streaming giant Netflix.
Directed by Jolie, historical-drama First They Killed My Father is told through the eyes of Loung Ung, who was just five years old when the Khmer Rouge comes to power in 1975.
The film is adapted from the harrowing memoir by Loung Ung, a Cambodian author and human rights activist. She also co-wrote the film with Jolie.
Jolie told Variety she made the film for Cambodian audiences—and also for her son Maddox, who was born in country.
“Every day on set, our discussions were not just about shots, but about what the film means,” she explained. The film debuted at Cambodia’s Olympic stadium at Phnom Penh.
“There were survivors there, ex-Khmer Rouge, members of the royal family — we weren’t sure what the reaction would be, but it was such a moving experience,” Jolie added.
Catch the trailer here:
First They Killed My Father launches on Netflix on September 15.
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