The New Zealand Film festival drew to a close on Sunday with a showing of the Annie Goldson documentary “Brother Number One” about the torture and murder of Kerry Hamill in Cambodia back in 1978. I’ve written about this case a couple of times in the past here and here and I also saw Rob Hamill, Kerry’s brother, give a talk about this at TEDxChCh last year. The film explores Rob’s journey, physically and emotionally, as a civil party in the trial of Duch, the CEO (Chief Execution Officer) of Tuol Sleng, the infamous S-21 torture and death camp in Phnom Penh.

The film has been put together very well, enabling those not familiar with the story, to really understand what happened and how the immediate family was affected. This year’s film festival had a strong theme of war and torture, with films like “Incendies” and “The First Grader” but I was still deeply moved by this film. It’s easy to become worn out by such stories, either feeling powerless, pessimistic or resigned. For me though they simply reinforce the need to keep pushing for democratic systems where human rights abuses are less likely to happen.

One interesting aspect of the film was the ability to interview survivors of Tuol Sleng, a handful of people who made it out alive and were able to bear witness to the atrocities that took place. Even more amazing were the interviews with those complicit such as the head of the local navy and an interrogator. Annie and Rob, especially, did a great job in keeping their emotions in check whilst doing their best to dig out as much information as they could without losing control. For Rob this really was a search for clues, for any piece of information, which would help him to piece together the last days of his brother. There was something almost masochistic about this undertaking. Why put yourself through that 30 years after the event? It was interesting that not all Rob’s siblings were entirely supportive of the idea (though on seeing the end result that changed). I can understand the reaction. The family had suffered enough so why drag it all up and make a film about it?

But that’s the whole point of bearing witness, of the calling to account, ultimately of justice. It’s also about acceptance, about releasing hidden and suppressed feelings of anger, hurt, betrayal, disgust, worthlessness and so on. Testifying in front of the court was the culmination of Rob’s journey and it was a fascinating moment, as he interrogated Duch directly. Duch was very courteous in answering his questions, bringing all his new found Christian beliefs to the fore. You almost had to pinch yourself to believe this was happening. Rob’s wife, Rachel, watched on the television outside the court, sensing his pain. I sensed that pain was still there when he spoke to the audience after the film.

Maybe it’s something that never leaves you. Even with all the Truth and Reconciliation Committees, The International Criminal Courts and other justice organisations, one is left with grief for the manner in which a loved one is killed. So within the carnage that was the Cambodian genocide, we are left with a simple human story of a brother that never came home and who found himself, by sheer misfortune, in the midst of a terrible process of human destruction. There is a no easy answer to be gleaned, no trite conclusion to be presented, just a revealing portrait of the suffering of one man and those around him.

Whilst the nature of justice is explored constantly, there are no solutions offered. How can there be? We’ve seen it all before, with the 20th Century littered with genocidal maniacs and the 21st Century is off to the same start. No, this is very much Rob’s personal story, a journey of discovery, understanding and exploration. One can only hope that producing this great film (there will be lots more footage on the website) will help him to release some of that pain and suffering. The film is an important testimony and it stands upright in that endeavour. In the end though life goes on and I’m left with the image of Kerry, not in S21, but sitting on the front of the Foxy Lady, grinning away at the joy of life. I’m sure that’s how he’d like to be remembered.

Tags: cambodia, duch, genocide, human rights, kerry hamill, pol pot, rob hamill, torture, violence