In Indonesia during the 1960s, a government-backed military coup led to the mass execution of alleged communists, ethnic Chinese, and intellectual dissidents. The perpetrators of these murders were paramilitary and gangster organizations who, more than forty years later, are celebrated as national heroes. The film focuses on Anwar Congo and his friends, who were leaders in the paramilitary group that carried out these killings in North Sumatra. These men are revered in their society and have thrived in the aftermath, achieving political and social prominence.

Invited by the filmmakers to recount their experiences, Congo and his comrades eagerly agree, viewing the opportunity as a chance to glorify their past actions and heroics. They are encouraged to reenact their role in the genocide using the cinematic genres they adore: gangster films, westerns, and musicals. As they stage these scenarios, they provide chilling insights into the mindsets and mechanisms behind the mass violence. The result is a surreal and macabre spectacle allowing the men to confront their deeds in ways they couldn't have anticipated, revealing complex emotions about the past and its haunting repercussions on the present.