First They Killed My Father

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First They Killed My Father

2017

2h 16m

Biography

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Loung Ung is 5 years old when the Khmer Rouge assumes power over Cambodia in 1975. They soon begin a four-year reign of terror and genocide in which nearly 2 million Cambodians die. Forced from her family's home in Phnom Penh, Ung is trained as a child soldier while her six siblings are sent to labor camps.

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Critics Consensus

First They Killed My Father tackles its subject matter with grace, skill, and empathy, offering a ground-level look at historic atrocities that resonates beyond its story's borders.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Sep 22, 2017

4/5

[Angelina] Jolie's fourth narrative feature,confirms her as an exquisite craftswoman and an artist capable of tackling geopolitical complexities.

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Sep 22, 2017

3.5/4

Jolie's latest is a strong adaptation of Loung's mind-blowing story, all of it anchored by a performance from Sareum that's simply marvelous.

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Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

Sep 21, 2017

First They Killed My Father is a sensitively rendered account of one child's real-life experience, but its broader implications are noteworthy too.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Jun 18, 2025

4/5

A potent, powerful thunderclap of a film that affirms Angelina Jolie’s accomplished vision as artist and ambassador.

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Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

Jul 2, 2024

...much like young Loung, we constantly question that. This is far and away Angelina Jolie’s finest achievement as a director...

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Jamie Healy

Radio Times

May 2, 2024

4/5

The dialogue is sparse and the timeline of events only hinted at, but Jolie's approach succeeds in capturing Loung's adaptation to the huge changes in her life.

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Daniel L

@Hotchopeppa Aug 29, 2026

Brilliant and tragic movie. It missed a lot from the book but it’s a decent dramatisation of what really happened.

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Les N

@Vegas628 Jun 1, 2026

I know what happened in Cambodia. Just wondering why they need to revisit it?

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Per S

@RT83737705 Aug 21, 2025

This film creates a rare notion of watching reality, with acting performances beyond. A cinematographic masterpiece.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 May 28, 2025

Not a very good film adaptation of a not very good book. Watched on Betflix.

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Martin R

@RT93363966 May 11, 2025

I just watched this movie this year and it’s a great film to point out how U.S imperialism supported the genocide around in Cambodia. I highly recommend watching it if you’re very against the U.S empire for their actions of genocide of hundreds of years ago this movie is why you should watch it.

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Gareth D

@HiGarethDavies Nov 24, 2024

Gut wrenching, heart breaking, brutal and poignant. Narrative driven and extremely visual with very little dialogue. A powerful movie.

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Angelina Jolie

Director

Sareum Srey Moch

Loung Ung

Phoeung Kompheak

Pa Ung

Sveng Socheata

Ma Ung

Tharoth Sam

Khmer Rouge Leader

Loung Ung

Screenwriter

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First They Killed My Father: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Loung Ung is 5 years old when the Khmer Rouge assumes power over Cambodia in 1975. They soon begin a four-year reign of terror and genocide in which nearly 2 million Cambodians die. Forced from her family's home in Phnom Penh, Ung is trained as a child soldier while her six siblings are sent to labor camps.

Director: Angelina Jolie
Producer: Rithy Panh, Ted Sarandos
Screenwriter: Loung Ung
Production Co: Netflix
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: Khmer
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 15, 2017
Runtime: 2h 16m

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