Rithy Panh continues to resurrect the memories of his country’s history

Presented in the Special Screenings, Duch, le Maître des forges de l’enfer (Duch, Master of the Forges of Hell) is a documentary about the Khmer Rouge genocide. This film is a new addition to the works by Rithy Panh on the crimes at S21, which follows Bophana, une tragédie cambodgienne (1996) and S21, la machine de mort khmère rouge, which was presented at Cannes, Out of Competition in 2003.

The Cambodian director Rithy Panh offers us an exceptional work: 1 hour and 45  minutes of interview with one of the biggest criminals of the century: Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch. Duch, in his role as Angkor party secretary at the centre of torture, S21 in Phnom Penh between 1975 and 1979, is responsible for the deaths of at least 12,000 people.

In 2009, Duch became the first Khmer Rouge leader to stand before an international criminal justice court (the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia). Several weeks before the trial, Rithy Panh spoke candidly with him, in a one on one conversation.

In this meeting, Duch speaks with the greatest simplicity, that he did indeed do what he is accused of doing. He also reveals what he considers to be the driving force behind the mass crimes as well as his obsession with work well done, the  cult of hierarchy and his desire to be appreciated by his superiors, his passion for power, discipline and organisation.

According to Thierry Cruvellier, former editor-in-chief of the International Justice Tribune and author of a book on Duch’s trial, set for release in September 2011,  “Duch opens up more than any other Khmer Rouge member of his rank and more than any mass criminal has ever done with a film director”.  He believes that this cinematic truth once more highlights judicial truth and provides the tools to understanding the trial, whereby Duch’s request that he be pardoned has met with a wall of refusal by his victims.

The film will be screened on Sunday 15th May at 8 p.m. in the Buñuel Theatre.

B. de M.