Watch Duch: Master of the Forges of Hell

Duch: Master of the Forges of Hell is a profound and chilling documentary that explores one of the darkest chapters in 20th-century history through the life and confessions of Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch. Directed by Rithy Panh, a Cambodian filmmaker who has dedicated much of his career to chronicling the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime, the film delves deep into the psyche of a man who oversaw the notorious S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where thousands were tortured and executed.

Released in 2011, this documentary represents a stark confrontation with the horrors that unfolded during the Khmer Rouge's reign from 1975 to 1979, amid their ruthless attempt to forge a classless agrarian society. This pursuit led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people through execution, forced labor, starvation, and disease—an event now recognized as a genocide.

Duch stands out as a figure of particular interest due to his position as the commandant of S-21, also known as Tuol Sleng. The film exposes how an educated and seemingly ordinary man, former mathematics teacher turned revolutionary, could become an architect of such systematic and cold-blooded brutality. Duch's meticulous nature ensured that S-21 operated efficiently as a center for interrogation and extermination under his supervision.

The central narrative arc of the film is constructed around Duch's trial at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), also known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. Established in 2006, the tribunal aimed to bring the senior figures of the Khmer Rouge to justice. Duch was one of the first to be put on trial for crimes against humanity and war crimes, and the documentary captures significant portions of his courtroom testimony, which shed light on the inner workings of the Khmer Rouge.

Rather than relying on sensationalism or dramatic reenactments, Duch: Master of the Forges of Hell is composed largely of interviews with the former prison chief, archival footage, and photographs from the era. The interviews reveal Duch's own reflections on his actions, his justifications, and the remorse—or lack thereof—that he feels for his role in the genocide.

The title of the film is an allegorical reference to the hellish environment that Duch and his subordinates created at S-21, the "forging" process standing in for the ruthless transformation of ideology into murderous action. The use of 'forge' in the title also alludes to the meticulous record-keeping that Duch championed, leaving behind a trove of evidence including the photographed faces of countless victims before they were killed.

Rithy Panh, himself a survivor of the Khmer Rouge labor camps, is not just a bystander in the story. His own personal history imbues the film with a deep sense of gravitas and a quest for understanding and reconciling with the past. Panh's narrative style is sober and methodical, allowing the enormity of the subject matter to speak for itself without unnecessary dramatization.

What makes the documentary particularly compelling is its intimate examination of the banality of evil. Duch is presented not as a two-dimensional villain, but as a complex individual who was both a product and a perpetrator of the Khmer Rouge's extremist ideology. The film challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable questions about morality, obedience, and culpability.

The visual imagery of the documentary enhances the haunting atmosphere of the narrative. Through long and steady camera shots of the decaying walls of S-21, the eeriness of the once-blood-soaked torture chambers is palpable. The film juxtaposes these somber visuals with the starkness of the tribunal courtroom and the cold specificity of the legal proceedings, almost as if to allow the audience to be there, to witness history being made accountable.

Duch: Master of the Forges of Hell is not for the faint of heart. It is raw, unsettling, and oftentimes harrowing. However, it is an essential watch for those seeking to understand the depths of human depravity, the complexities of justice, and the painful necessity of remembering even the darkest facets of history. It stands as a powerful testament to the victims of the Khmer Rouge and serves as a grim reminder of the potential for evil that lies within systems and individuals when absolute power is left unchecked.

Duch: Master of the Forges of Hell is a 2012 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.