Reaction Paper

YEHT TSRIF" :EIVOM

"REHTAF YM DELLIK

Submitted by: Tahong Ni Karla Group

It's difficult to imagine yourself in the shoes of a youngster who has lost everything: their
home, family, and childhood. We noticed ourselves doing precisely that while viewing the film
"First They Killed My Father", contemplating the brutality of war through the eyes of a young
girl.

"First They Killed My Father", directed by Angelina Jolie, is based on the life of author and
human rights campaigner Loung Ung during the Khmer Rouge's reign of terror. The film is
based on Loung Ung's memoir, which tells the account of her survival of the Khmer Rouge
dictatorship from 1975 to 1978. Hundreds or even thousands of families were completely
destroyed of the dictatorship, which killed up to two million individuals, about a quarter of the
country's population at the time.

The story-line revolved around the Khmer Rouge, a murderous government that ripped
families apart and murdered innocent men, women, and youngsters. Many Cambodians died of
starvation, sickness, or were slaughtered in cold blood using the most heinous means during in
the Khmer Rouge's reign of terror. The familial relationships between Loung Ung and her
siblings, despite the Khmer Rouge's destruction of families, could never be broken.
Nevertheless, fortunately, the cruel Khmer Rouge regime's time has come and gone. Ung and
her other siblings were fortunate to see them out due to her mother's sacrifice. Vietnamese
army were able to detach much of Cambodia after four years. The regime's hold on power
loosened, and mass murders of civilians came to an end.Meng, the author's eldest brother, was
able to save money in 1979 to get transportation to the United States for himself and one of his
other siblings, allowing them to begin a new life. Ung, his youngest surviving sibling, was
chosen as his partner. His argument was clear and considerate: she was still young enough to
attend school and receive an education. She would have the opportunity to start afresh with
those privileges that had previously been denied to her.
Ung arrived in the United States in the year 1980. She is still a survivor of one of the world's
most heinous genocides, but she has a future.
From the age of five, when the Khmer Rouge came to power, through the age of nine, the story
is portrayed through the eyes of a young Loung.
We commend Loung for expressing her personal experience and shedding light on what
children witness, experience, and internalize during war and conflict. Children's Villages was
privileged to be a part of such a moving film.
We strongly advise everyone to watch this film, which is currently available on Netflix. We
wish that the film motivates people to help children in need and that it aids groups like ours in
continuing to give support and care to these children in need.

We were deeply moved by Loung's history and so this film, and we expect that almost
everyone will be as well.

Tahong Members:

Jacqueline Herco

Alia Natangcop

Edel Mark Mangondato

Abdul Jabbar Abuat

Mary Rose Deguma

Keynt Heyrowld Genon