Netflix's Acclaimed Historical Drama 'First They Killed My Father' Declared Essential Viewing
Netflix continues to solidify its reputation as a premier destination for powerful period dramas with First They Killed My Father, a profoundly moving film adaptation that has been declared a must-watch by critics and viewers alike. This historical drama joins a growing catalogue of acclaimed Netflix productions that have captivated audiences with their emotional depth and historical significance.
A Harrowing True Story Brought to Life
Released in 2017, First They Killed My Father chronicles the devastating experiences of a young girl caught in the Cambodian genocide of the 1970s under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime led by dictator Pol Pot. The film opens in 1975, following five-year-old Loung Ung, portrayed by Sreymoch Sareum, as her family flees the advancing Khmer Rouge forces who have seized the capital city of Phnom Penh.
The narrative provides a heartbreaking glimpse into the human cost of ideological extremism, as Loung is forced to become a child soldier for the communist regime while her siblings are sent to labour camps. The film masterfully portrays how ordinary civilians became tragically entangled in the violence that swept through Cambodia during this dark period.
Angelina Jolie's Passion Project
Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie directed this powerful adaptation, which is based on Loung Ung's 2007 memoir First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers. The author collaborated directly with Jolie on the screenplay, ensuring an authentic representation of her traumatic childhood experiences.
Jolie revealed that she discovered Ung's book while filming the first Tomb Raider movie in 2001, and the memoir resonated with her so deeply that it inspired her to form a lifelong bond with the author. The actress dedicated over 50 days to shooting the film across Siem Reap and Battambang in late 2015, approaching the project as what she described as "a kind of thank you, a love letter" to Cambodia.
Critical Acclaim and Viewer Praise
The film has received widespread critical recognition, currently boasting an impressive 88% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes alongside an 81% audience score on the platform's Popcornmeter. On IMDb, it maintains a solid 7.2/10 rating with numerous viewers awarding it perfect scores.
One enthusiastic reviewer gave the film a perfect 10/10, praising its "exquisite cinematography" and "phenomenal performances" while declaring it "a magnificent account of modern day genocide." The viewer noted that "the images stay with you long after the film concludes" and described it as an essential viewing experience that creates "an indelible memory of atrocities that are scarcely known."
Another reviewer awarded the film 9/10, describing it as both "enthralling" and "amazing" while declaring it a "classic" that serves as "a timely reminder" that children often become "the biggest victims" in war zones. A third critic similarly rated it 9/10, praising it as "an excellent rendition of the individual's struggle" during the early Khmer Rouge occupation that "accurately portrays how Cambodians struggled under the regime" from an intimate family perspective.
Personal Connections and Production Details
During production, Jolie was accompanied by her eldest adopted son Maddox, who was born in Cambodia. This provided him with an opportunity to learn about his homeland's tragic history and gain insight into what his biological parents "most likely went through" during this period.
Jolie explained her motivation for making the film, stating: "I made it for Cambodia. There hadn't been a story on this scale that would reach people in their language, with them being the hero." This project followed her previous directorial efforts including the Bosnian war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey, the relationship film By the Sea, and Unbroken, which chronicled Olympian Louis Zamperini's extraordinary true story.
First They Killed My Father is currently available for streaming on Netflix, offering viewers a powerful and educational cinematic experience that illuminates a significant historical tragedy through one family's harrowing survival story.
