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

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

Rated: 4/5

Sep 22, 2017

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

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.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 22, 2017

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Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

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

Sep 21, 2017

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

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

Rated: 4/5

Jun 18, 2025

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Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

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

Jul 2, 2024

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Jamie Healy

Radio Times

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.

Rated: 4/5

May 2, 2024

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Leaburn O

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

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/28/25

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Martin R

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

Full Review

Gareth D

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/24/24

Full Review

Luis M. D

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!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/24/23

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John S

Very well done, shows humanity amid the brutality of the Khmer Rouge. Correctly recalls the cultural milieu of the 1970s in post colonial phnom phen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/23

Full Review

Jennifer M

This was such an amazing story. I almost didn't watch since it was in a foreign language, but I am so glad I kept on. You really get a great sense of the daily life these people went through and it was sad to see how these children were used and abused. I would definitely recommend watching this!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/30/23

Full Review

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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

Angelina Jolie

Screenwriter

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First They Killed My Father: Trailer 1

1:43

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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: Angelina Jolie, Rithy Panh, Ted Sarandos
Screenwriter: Angelina Jolie, 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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