The filmmakers challenge former Indonesian death-squad leaders to reenact their mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish, including classic Hollywood crime scenarios and lavish musical numbers. Anwar Congo and his friends have been dancing their way through musical numbers, twisting arms in film noir gangster scenes, and galloping across prairies as yodeling cowboys. Their foray into filmmaking is being celebrated in the media and debated on television, even though Anwar Congo and his friends are mass murderers. Medan, Indonesia. When the government of Indonesia was overthrown by the military in 1965, Anwar and his friends were promoted from small-time gangsters who sold movie theatre tickets on the black market to death squad leaders. They helped the army kill more than one million alleged communists, ethnic Chinese, and intellectuals in less than a year. As the executioner for the most notorious death squad in his city, Anwar himself killed hundreds of people with his own hands. The Act of Killing is about killers who have won, and the sort of society they have built. Unlike ageing Nazis or Rwandan génocidaires, Anwar and his friends have not been forced by history to admit they participated in crimes against humanity. Instead, they have written their own triumphant history, becoming role models for millions of young paramilitaries. The Act of Killing is a journey into the memories and imaginations of the perpetrators, offering insight into the minds of mass killers. And The Act of Killing is a nightmarish vision of a frighteningly banal culture of impunity in which killers can joke about crimes against humanity on television chat shows, and celebrate moral disaster with the ease and grace of a soft shoe dance number.
In 1996, the Menendez brothers' trial for the brutal murder of their parents shocked the nation and left a lasting mark on America's legal and cultural landscape. Now, decades later, this gripping documentary revisits the case that fascinated millions, providing unprecedented access to those closest to the brothers and the courtroom drama. Through exclusive interviews, newly uncovered details, and firsthand accounts, it sheds light on the motivations, emotions, and complex family dynamics that led to the shocking crime. Lyle and Erik Menendez, serving life sentences in prison, break their silence to offer their perspective on the harrowing events that forever changed their lives. This documentary explores not only the chilling crime and sensational media coverage but also the brothers’ own reflections and the ongoing debate about justice, privilege, and the true nature of the tragedy. Prepare to witness a story of betrayal, power, and a search for answers that still haunts America to this day.
A gripping documentary that delves into the shadowy world of social media algorithms, revealing how they amplify harmful content and controversial figures like Andrew Tate. With exclusive interviews from his critics, supporters, and those who know him personally, the film exposes the shocking truth behind Tate's rise to infamy and influence. It asks a critical question: how does someone with such toxic, misogynistic views manage to captivate millions of young followers, despite facing charges of rape and human trafficking? This film goes beyond the surface of Tate’s controversial persona to uncover the disturbing power of social media platforms. By pulling back the curtain on the algorithms designed to promote extreme and inflammatory content for profit, it paints a chilling picture of the real-world consequences of online hate. A must-watch for anyone seeking to understand the dangerous intersection of internet culture and its impact on society.
This film, which spans all three episodes of the series, is a riveting documentary that traces the incredible journey of Volodymyr Zelensky, from comedian to wartime president. Director Michael Waldman expertly weaves interviews, political milestones, and footage of Zelensky's rise to fame in the Ukrainian entertainment industry. From his portrayal of a fictional president in Servant of the People to becoming a real-life leader facing the full-scale Russian invasion, the documentary highlights Zelensky's determination, charisma, and humanity. The film captures the profound contrast between Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin, portraying their intertwined destinies as a battle between light and darkness. With compelling interviews from Zelensky, his wife Olena, and colleagues, it reveals the personal and political struggles that shaped his leadership. This documentary is a must-see, offering a deep, cinematic portrait of a man thrust into the role of a global hero.
The story of how Instagram became the dominant force it is today, told by former staff and insiders and through powerful testimony from users who have been negatively impacted. An eye-opening documentary delving into the shadows of social media harm. More than half of the world now uses social media, and as our global usage increases and 87% of 12-15 year olds have an account, concerns continue to be raised about how we can stay safe online, and the role social media companies play in that. The film explores how Instagram affects its users and the role big tech companies play in exacerbating issues around body image and self-harm for younger users.
In this revealing documentary, Giancarlo Granda, former pool attendant at the Fontainebleau Hotel, shares the intimate details of his 7-year relationship with a charming older woman, Becki Falwell, and her husband, the Evangelical Trump stalwart Jerry Falwell Jr. Directed by Billy Corben, the film outlines Granda's entanglement with the Falwell's seemingly perfect lives and the overarching influence this affair had on a presidential election. The life of Jerry Falwell — the late Moral Majority televangelist who for decades helped catalyze the rightward shift of American evangelicals before his death in 2007 — is a quintessentially American story. But it’s in the next generation that the Falwell narrative becomes at once soap opera and morality tale. The film covers the graceless fall of Jerry Falwell Jr., who after the death of his father was placed in the presidency of the family’s conservative organ Liberty University. There, he seemed to remain painfully in thrall to his appetites. We hear testimony about his alleged tendency to drink on the job and discomfiting, slurry interviews between him and sympathetic media — but most crucially, we receive the testimony of Giancarlo Granda. Granda was a pool attendant at a Miami hotel when he met Falwell and his wife, Becki, in 2012. Today, he alleges that he was persuaded to have sex with Becki while Falwell watched, and that the pair engaged in an ongoing campaign of communication with him that could be described as coercive. His energies were consumed with managing their tempers and occasionally threatening behavior, and he blames the swirl of scandal around them for derailing his professional future. Plainspoken and only occasionally visibly emotional, Granda is his own best advocate as he describes a couple who, he says, craved his body and were willing to discard the rest of him.
Medan, Indonesia. When the government of Indonesia was overthrown by the military in 1965, Anwar and his friends were promoted from small-time gangsters who sold movie theatre tickets on the black market to death squad leaders. They helped the army kill more than one million alleged communists, ethnic Chinese, and intellectuals in less than a year. As the executioner for the most notorious death squad in his city, Anwar himself killed hundreds of people with his own hands.
The Act of Killing is about killers who have won, and the sort of society they have built. Unlike ageing Nazis or Rwandan génocidaires, Anwar and his friends have not been forced by history to admit they participated in crimes against humanity. Instead, they have written their own triumphant history, becoming role models for millions of young paramilitaries. The Act of Killing is a journey into the memories and imaginations of the perpetrators, offering insight into the minds of mass killers. And The Act of Killing is a nightmarish vision of a frighteningly banal culture of impunity in which killers can joke about crimes against humanity on television chat shows, and celebrate moral disaster with the ease and grace of a soft shoe dance number.