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First They Killed My Father

Play trailer 1:43 Poster for First They Killed My Father 2017 2h 16m Biography History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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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First They Killed My Father

First They Killed My Father

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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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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times 09/22/2017
4/5
[Angelina] Jolie's fourth narrative feature,confirms her as an exquisite craftswoman and an artist capable of tackling geopolitical complexities. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 09/22/2017
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. Go to Full Review Stephanie Zacharek TIME Magazine 09/21/2017
First They Killed My Father is a sensitively rendered account of one child's real-life experience, but its broader implications are noteworthy too. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 06/18/2025
4/5
A potent, powerful thunderclap of a film that affirms Angelina Jolie’s accomplished vision as artist and ambassador. Go to Full Review Brendan Cassidy InSession Film 07/02/2024
...much like young Loung, we constantly question that. This is far and away Angelina Jolie’s finest achievement as a director... Go to Full Review Jamie Healy Radio Times 05/02/2024
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Les N @Vegas628 Jun 1 I know what happened in Cambodia. Just wondering why they need to revisit it? See more Per S @RT83737705 Aug 21 This film creates a rare notion of watching reality, with acting performances beyond. A cinematographic masterpiece. See more Leaburn O @RT35452347 05/28/2025 Not a very good film adaptation of a not very good book. Watched on Betflix. See more Martin R @RT93363966 05/11/2025 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. See more Gareth D @HiGarethDavies 11/24/2024 Gut wrenching, heart breaking, brutal and poignant. Narrative driven and extremely visual with very little dialogue. A powerful movie. See more Luis M. D @RT44148560 11/24/2023 A historic drama narrated by a real-life survivor. It's as tense and gut-wrenching as the 1984 movie ‘The Killing Fields'. Definitely good! See more Read all reviews
First They Killed My Father

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Cast & Crew

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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

First They Killed My Father: Trailer 1 First They Killed My Father: Trailer 1 1:43 View more videos
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First They Killed My Father

First They Killed My Father (2017) First They Killed My Father (2017) PHOTO CREDIT: Pax Thien Jolie Pitt PHOTO CREDIT: Pax Thien Jolie Pitt First They Killed My Father (2017) View more photos

Movie Info

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