Rithy Panh, a Cambodian national who escaped the Khmer Rouge as a teen and lost family and friends to the mass genocide needed to have some form of physical proof to capture the unthinkable atrocities, such as a snapshot. After much scouring and no such record to be found, Panh recreated the wretched conditions of a work camp with clay figures and used them to tell his harrowing story. The Missing Picture is an innovative form of storytelling, which also makes fine use of excellent footage but is crippled by Panh's obtuse and pretentious narration.
*** out of ****
