Ep 4. Enemies of the People

"Enemies of the People," the fourth episode of POV's 24th season, takes a harrowing look at the aftermath of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime. The episode follows Thet Sambath, a journalist who spends a decade interviewing former members of the Khmer Rouge in an attempt to understand their motives and bring justice to their victims.

Sambath, whose own family was killed by the Khmer Rouge, speaks with several former Khmer Rouge officials, including Nuon Chea (known as "Brother Number Two"), who was the regime's chief ideologist. Through these interviews, Sambath uncovers the brutal reality of life under the regime, as well as the deep-seated ideologies that led many to commit horrific crimes.

As the episode unfolds, Sambath's interviews reveal the complicated web of power, politics, and ideology that enabled the Khmer Rouge to seize control of Cambodia and commit genocide against its own people. Sambath also grapples with his own intense emotions, as his interviews bring him face-to-face with the very people who killed his family.

Ultimately, "Enemies of the People" is a powerful testament to the importance of both confronting and understanding the darkest periods of human history. Sambath's interviews are a reminder that even the most unspeakable crimes can be illuminated through honest inquiry and dialogue, and that there is always the possibility of reckoning and reconciliation in the aftermath.