Where can I watch The Look of Silence?

In the poignant documentary The Look of Silence, released in 2014, filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer delves into the haunting aftermath of the Indonesian mass killings of 1965-1966, an event that claimed the lives of an estimated half a million people. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Adi Rukun, an optician whose brother was brutally murdered during this dark chapter in history. With a quiet yet resolute determination, Adi confronts the perpetrators of these atrocities, seeking not only to understand the horror that befell his family but also to confront the lingering shadows of guilt and denial that have permeated Indonesian society.

What makes The Look of Silence particularly striking is its exploration of themes such as memory, trauma, and the struggle for justice in a landscape where silence often reigns supreme. Adi’s interactions with the former executioners are both chilling and revealing, as they reveal a complex web of denial and rationalization that still exists decades later. The film powerfully illustrates how personal and collective histories intertwine, leaving viewers to grapple with uncomfortable truths about humanity's capacity for violence and the necessity of confronting the past. With its deeply personal storytelling and haunting cinematography, this documentary stands as both a tribute to the lost and a call to remember, making it an essential watch for anyone interested in the intersections of history, memory, and the human experience.