"You're just filming this and doing nothing to stop it?"

" . . . violence is my forte."

An aging but violent veteran looking for divine redemption beats up other veterans in order to find the truth about possible cannibalization during World War 2 in this ethically dubious, always enthralling, and completely batshit documentary that is even crazier than it sounds.

pulverises the glory of war into the finest dust

"Today, I came here fully prepared to beat you up." is the hardest line of all time. Violence is bad but violence yields results, kenzo okuzaki was a mad man.

An absolute stunner of a documentary. Kenzo Okuzaki’s mission of fighting for the truth(almost at times literally) about horrific war crimes borders on insane and inspiring. The tug of whether his actions are morally justified or not, to the very end, where even his poor wife continues the great fight, are incredibly difficult to process. Should there be mercy for those that keep the darkest of truths, memories, and traumas repressed? Okuzaki clearly thinks not and while he has plenty of ammo to sling at those he confronts, he seems to have just as much compassion for the victims and their families. Kazuo Hara shoots Okuzaki and his actions in plain sight, which asks greater questions about its provocative images and ideas unto its audience, which is what any great documentary should do.

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

WHAT THE FUCK
Ok so if you haven't seen this movie go watch it it is bonkers. Definitely one of my favorite documentaries, definitely one of the best investigative docs ever. If you like serial, or making a murderer, or anything like that watch this. While those investigations use clues, old records and testimoneys, etc. this movie throws that out the window. It follows a 68 (I think) year old man who hunts down a group of soldiers who executed fellow members of his regiment and interrogates them. However, while most would be respectful and when someone declines a question or even to be interviewed in the first place, Kenzo threatens them with violence and actualluy beats them up on occaision to make them talk. Police are called, ethics are constantly questioned, and the truth of the executions is one of the most disturbing conclusions that you will never expect.

Totally compelling. It is inspiring to watch someone act against their own self-interest and comfort in order to account for the unspeakable.

A troubling, aggressive documentary. Full of contradictions and anguish over what cannot be undone. An excellent work of distanced direct cinema. Beyond the murky, ugly events at the end of World War II, what is most fascinating, frustrating, and challenging about this film is Okuzaki. The man, his motivations, his life story, his indefatigable determination.

But, in my opinion, it is the coda that really elevates this film to another level. Not closure – which may be truly impossible with such a subject – but a kind of inversion that truly blew me away.

"How do you think people two see this film will interpret this?"

"Why are you forcing me to talk?
Because it’s the only way to make their sacrifice meaningful."

"During the war, he killed a soldier. I'm here to find out the truth"

Act Of Killing: please confess to committing crimes against humanity:( i'll give u money and u can make a movie about it:) express yourself in anyway you like:) i'm ur friend:) please:) you like movies don't you:)

this movie: confess or i will fucking beat the shit out of you in front of your own family>:(

Magnífica!

One of the most important films I've ever watched and something that absolutely must be seen by everyone

I need to think about this one some more, but there's no denying that this film is as effective an anti-war messenger as anything I've seen. I've never seen a movie before that makes it clear that war makes victims or monsters out of everyone. There's none of the treacly "bonding and camaraderie" stuff that is so prevalent in American war movies (even the ostensibly anti-war ones). This movie makes it clear; even if you escape war without killing or being killed, just simply being around those acts makes you a victim and irreparably affects you and everyone close to you for the rest of your life.

Also, its hard to think of a protagonist (either documentary or not) as unique and interesting as Okuzaki. He is somehow simultaneously funny, foreboding, intimidating, empathetic, sociopathic. I found myself rooting for him throughout, even as he was harassing and tackling old men who just want to be left alone.