S21: The Khmer Rouge Death Machine

Name: S21: The Khmer Rouge Death Machine
Genre: History, War, Documentary
Released: May 19, 2004
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 75

2004

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

See All

6.1

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.1	Your Score
6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

First Run Features | Release Date: May 19, 2004 | Unrated

Summary: In 1975-79, the Khmer Rouge waged a campaign of genocide on Cambodia?s population. 1.7 million Cambodians lost their lives to famine and murder as the urban population was forced into the countryside to fulfill the Khmer Rouges' dream of an agrarian utopia. In S21, Panh brings two survivors back to the notorious Tuol Sleng prisonIn 1975-79, the Khmer Rouge waged a campaign of genocide on Cambodia?s population. 1.7 million Cambodians lost their lives to famine and murder as the urban population was forced into the countryside to fulfill the Khmer Rouges' dream of an agrarian utopia. In S21, Panh brings two survivors back to the notorious Tuol Sleng prison (code-named "S21"), now a genocide museum where former Khmer Rouge are employed as guides. (First Run Features)… Expand

Director: Rithy Panh

Genre(s): History, War, Documentary

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 101 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

David Sterritt

The result is a history lesson both invaluable and horrific. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Yet S21, unlike many documentaries about the Nazi era, isn't a sickening panorama of brutality. Shot on video, it's quiet and intimate. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Cinema at its most intellectually honest and morally necessary. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Mr. Rithy Panh makes telling use of a survivor whose ability to communicate lends itself to the subject. The tragedy is that Mr. Vann Nath's powers are used to illuminate these horrors. Read full review

V.A. Musetto

Man's inhumanity to man is gruesomely detailed in S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine. Read full review

Nathan Rabin

A harrowing, unblinking look at the crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge, the genocidal regime that by some accounts killed off more than a quarter of Cambodia's population between 1975 and 1979. Read full review

Derek Elley

There's no shortage of existing docus on the subject, and Panh's doesn't bring either a fresh enough angle or enough new material to the table to justify its length. Read full review

SEE ALL 12 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

geedup

Jul 8, 2012

As a foreigner living in Asia I have been able to go to Cambodia and see Ankor Wat, but not before seeing this film. It is disturbing but very thought provoking to highlight the terrible things that happened in this country to millions of people-as most of the world looked away. Brother #1,As a foreigner living in Asia I have been able to go to Cambodia and see Ankor Wat, but not before seeing this film. It is disturbing but very thought provoking to highlight the terrible things that happened in this country to millions of people-as most of the world looked away. Brother #1, Year Zero....so many things to consider.............… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 1 REVIEWS