Netflix viewers have stumbled across an unmissable war film they have branded an “absolute masterpiece”. First They Killed My Father, released in 2017, follows a five-year-old girl as she embarks on a harrowing quest for survival after the Khmer Rouge assumes power over Cambodia in 1975. First They Killed My Father is based on the life of Loung Ung, who was forced to train as a child soldier under the Khmer Rouge while her brothers and sisters were sent to labour camps.

Directed by Angelina Jolie, the film is based on the book of the same name, written by Loung and published in 2000. Sreymoch Sareum stars as a young Loung, while the rest of the cast is mostly made up of Cambodian actors and its dialogue is almost entirely in the Khmer language. The movie is set during the Cambodian genocide in the 1970s – now regarded as one of the worst human atrocities of the 20th century. The Communist regime, which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, claimed it was building a pure socialist society by evicting people from cities to work in labour camps in the countryside.

During their rule, they killed anyone that they saw as a threat, including intellectuals, minorities and former government officials and their families. Its radical policies led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution.

In 1979, the regime was forced out of power after Vietnam invaded the country. The film, which has an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is now being discovered by fans.

Taking to social media to praise the project, one wrote: “First They Killed My Father is heartbreakingly sad. I have a teammate who grew up in Cambodia during that time. Such terrible things he lived through.”

A second echoed: “Just finished watching First They killed my father and it’s an absolute masterpiece. The plot was simple but the profound message left me in tears halfway through the movie. Seriously every minutes was worth it.”

Another agreed: “First They Killed My Father (2017) Without a pause, I can’t watch this movie because it made me break down in tears, my heart shattering as the injustice towards human society is deeply portrayed. In 1975, the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia.”

However, other viewers have been left torn after comparing the film to the book.

One claimed: “The book First They Killed My Father is better than the movie – more detail. The movie is good though.”

Another posted: “If you think ‘First They Killed My Father’ in some ways is a beautiful film, don’t read the book. It doesn’t do ‘cute’ and it doesn’t sugarcoat ANYTHING.”

A third penned: “The movie, First They Killed My Father, like any other movie made after a book didn’t really cover it all, but nonetheless a great film!”