Angelina Jolie returns to the spotlight to prepare for the global screening of her latest Netflix film, “First They Killed My Father.” Since her divorce from husband Brad Pitt, the award-winning actress made her first publicized appearance in Cambodia for a press conference and the official premiere of her upcoming movie.
Jolie’s six children were all present to attend the event as well. From a child’s perspective, “First They Killed My Father” puts forward a true-life story of the violent Khmer Rouge genocide. According to the actress, she wanted the movie to appeal to Cambodians and help them in speaking up more openly about the trauma they experienced during such harsh period when two million people died.
Now a UN special envoy for refugees, Jolie first visited Cambodia when she filmed the Hollywood hit “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” in 2001. Later on, she adopted oldest son Maddox from the country.
"I came to this country and I fell in love with its people and learned its history, and in doing so learned, how little I actually knew about the world," she said in an interview with BBC's Yalda Hakim. "This country, for me was my awakening.”
The three-time Golden Globe winner also opened up about being appreciative and grateful towards Cambodia, saying that she could never “give back as much as this country has given me." The “First They Killed My Father” world premiere was carried out inside the Angkor Temple complex. King Norodom Sihamoni was also present at the event; he previously granted Cambodian citizenship to the actress for her contributions to the country, including the creation of an environmental foundation in Cambodia.
According to CNN, Jolie’s latest movie premiere has been her first major public appearance since she filed for divorce from Pitt in September, citing irreconcilable differences. While the couple had been together since 2004, they only tied the knot in August 2014.
"It was very difficult," the “By The Sea” director shared. "Many people find themselves in this situation. My whole family have all been through a difficult time. My focus is my children, our children.”
