The Look of Silence (2014)

In the contemporary landscape of Indonesia, a young optometrist named Adi embarks on a poignant journey into his country's harrowing past, specifically the blood-soaked year of 1965, in the province of Aceh. During this time, ordinary citizens were stigmatized as "Communists" after a coup against the government and the complete eradication of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). Under the shadow of the Iron Bridge of River Snake, the notorious Komando Aksi death squads executed more than a million people, transforming this time into a chilling spectacle of death and deception. Among the countless victims was Ramli, Adi's older brother. In this stirring documentary, The Look of Silence, Adi brazenly seeks to unveil the truth behind the ethnic cleansing, tracing the steps of his brother's executioners. His search unearths a stark and disheartening truth - the orchestrators of this mass genocide, responsible for shattering countless lives, continue to rule unscathed, their sins conveniently forgotten, their hands seemingly clean. Years after Ramli's ruthless murder amidst the anti-communist purge, his family lived shackled in a suffocating silence, their lives overshadowed by fear. It is only with the making of this documentary that Adi dares to break this silence, confronting both the men who perpetrated the killings and a solitary survivor. His meetings peel back the layers of the past, revealing the sadistic details of the murders and laying bare the killers' families' raw emotions and reactions. In the face of this bone-chilling reality, Adi grapples with his disappointment, but even amidst the ruins of the past, life must persist. The Look of Silence is a haunting exploration of a time better forgotten, yet one that must be remembered.

The Look of Silence is a documentary movie featuring Adi Rukun.

The Look of Silence is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee, Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV and Tubi TV and it's also available on Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, Hoopla and Topic.

It is also possible to buy The Look of Silence on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Microsoft Store and Redbox.