Mass Hysteria in The Act of Killing

Usually, I don’t write sequel to my posts, but I couldn't resist to this one, as said by Oscar Wilde, “Don’t resist to temptation- yield for it”. 

The Act of Killing has been particularly disturbing film, which I had seen in recent times. Not because of the re-enactment of the killings, but by the words which are unspoken and actions which reflect something else than seen on the screen.

FYI, click this for the part I – www.filmbulb.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-act-of-killing-denmark-2012.html

Sometime in this film, we are introduced to Anwar Congo‘compatriot Adel, who had equally done a fair share of killings as Anwar. When he and Anwar talks about their past, he doesn't even show a hint of remorse. In fact he says he never had any nightmares, he criticizes Geneva Convention, want a case to be filled again Abel & Cain and want to write a Jakarta convention. 

Following his eccentric talks, in the nest scene, he is seen with his family happily shopping with his wife and daughter in a big mall. These two shots depict extreme conditions- one the Joshua Oppenheimer (director) is posting questions on him about his past, which he Adel trashes like a fly on the wall and the other we see him in this posh mall with his happy family.

Adel with his family

The other scene is the Panchasila gang re-enact the killings in a village. The actors had to act as the gang is torturing them and burning their homes. The scene unfolds with the shouting of the gang with the forest insects creaking sound in the background. Once they say “cut”, we see children really crying and some women almost losing their consciousness.

Individual killings are done at the spur of the moment, even though there are planned murders, this human psychology can be controlled by the fear of law. The actual human psychology, which is hard to control, is the mob psychology which is backed by a mass hysteria. Killings in the name of religions and ideas are based on this mass hysteria. This shouldn't be confined only to 1965 Indonesia. Every country has its own share of bloodshed. History is full of it, just a matter of who writes is important.