Angelina Jolie’s Cambodian Journey: From Tomb Raider to “First They Killed My Father”
Last Saturday, Angelina Jolie graced the Telluride Film Festival for the premiere of her latest directorial venture, “First They Killed My Father.” This film, shot on location in Cambodia, marks a significant point in Jolie’s cinematic journey, one that began 17 years ago with “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” a stark contrast to the poignant narrative of her new film.
A Transformative Encounter
“I realized how incredibly ignorant I had been,” Jolie reflected on her initial encounter with Cambodia. This experience led to her involvement with the United Nations and her subsequent return to the country, where she adopted her eldest son, Maddox, from an orphanage in Battambang in 2002. During that first trip, seeking a deeper understanding of the nation, Jolie purchased a copy of “First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers,” a memoir by Cambodian author Loung Ung, detailing her survival during the Khmer Rouge regime. This book became the foundation for Jolie’s new film.
“What was more important to me?” Jolie stated during a Q&A session following the North American premiere (the film’s global premiere, distributed by Netflix, was held in Cambodia in February). “I wanted my son to understand who his people were.”
Delving into a Child’s Perspective
“First They Killed My Father” opens with archival footage of Nixon and Kissinger, foreshadowing the decisions that would soon impact Cambodia. The film then transitions to the perspective of five-year-old Loung Ung (played by Sareum Srey Moch) in 1975, as the Khmer Rouge takes power. Jolie’s camera focuses on the world through a child’s eyes: a pair of shoes stolen by soldiers, a handful of stolen rice, and a comforting embrace from her father.
Challenges and Triumphs in Production
Hundreds of Khmer-speaking children participated in the film, and the production team was largely Cambodian. Jolie acknowledged the challenges of telling the story of survivors without causing further trauma. “We had 300 Khmer soldiers running down the street with guns, and not everyone knew we were making a film,” Jolie explained. The production team included therapists on set and set up roadblocks to explain the situation to local residents.
Finding Beauty Amidst Darkness
While “First They Killed My Father” depicts a profoundly dark period, Jolie’s lens often lingers on moments of beauty – lotuses, rice paddies, and the vibrant orange robes of monks. This beauty provides a respite for the audience and serves as a crucial element for the protagonist, Loung Ung. “My Cambodia is not the black and white images of graves and skulls. My Cambodia is green… it is monks, it is smiles.”
Jolie emphasized the film’s relevance to contemporary global conflicts. “You see a vacuum, and on the sides, you see extremism rising, and misinformation… a little girl feeling like she’s been completely abandoned by the world,” Jolie said. “I hope people see in this film how people survive, how little Loungs survive.”
A Moment of Levity
When host Peter Sellars (a theater director) asked Jolie if her role as a Special Envoy for the UN Refugee Agency had been helpful in making the film, Jolie’s response brought a moment of levity to the serious discussion. She quipped, “It helps with this kind of film. It wouldn’t help if I was doing a comedy.”