Netflix Releases First Trailer for Angelina Jolie Drama 'First They Killed My Father' (Video)

Jolie directed the Netflix drama about Cambodian author and human rights activist Loung Ung's experience trying to escape Cambodia during genocide perpetuated by the Khmer Rouge regime. Jolie co-wrote the script with Ung based on her book, and worked with producer Rilthy Pahn, who explained to Deadline the importance of this film for the Asian country.

"It is the first time that one of the most crucial periods of our history has been told on such a major scale, and shot in our country and in our Khmer language. This is all thanks to the strength of character of Angelina Jolie, who was able to convince, bring together, and unite the talent and energy of the actors, technicians, workers, and all the other people involved in the film, in order to present the historical facts as accurately as possible, in a way that respects our memory," Pahn said. "A film is a viewpoint, a personal narrative; it does not answer all the questions, but it contributes to a dialogue and to the passing on of knowledge from one generation to the next."

Just last week, Jolie sparked social media buzz after Vanity Fair released its Jolie cover story, detailing how she cast the movie. According to the article, casting directors would place money in front of the poor children auditioning and would ask the children what they needed the money for, then take the money away to provoke a reaction.

Jolie later released a statement to The Huffington Post, calling the report "false and upsetting."

"Every measure was taken to ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of the children on the film starting from the auditions through production to the present," Jolie said. "Parents, guardians, partner NGOs whose job it is to care for children, and medical doctors were always on hand everyday, to ensure everyone had all they needed. And above all to make sure that no one was in any way hurt by participating in the recreation of such a painful part of their country's history."

"I am upset that a pretend exercise in an improvisation, from an actual scene in the film, has been written about as if it was a real scenario. The suggestion that real money was taken from a child during an audition is false and upsetting. I would be outraged myself if this had happened," Jolie continued. "The point of this film is to bring attention to the horrors children face in war, and to help fight to protect them."

"First They Killed My Father" starts streaming on Sept. 15 after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival.