Year Zero: Remembering the Khmer Rouge's deadly political experiment

In the countryside across Cambodia, mass graves known as the killing fields, haunt the landscape. They are reminders of the reign of Pol Pot, one of the 20th century's most violent political leaders. He was the leader of the Khmer Rouge. When they seized power they undertook a radical experiment to create a pure Communist utopia.The plan was called "Year Zero."

Pol Pot's communist utopia led to the murder of approximately two million Cambodians. Cities were emptied and citizens were forced into rural labour camps. Only the lucky survived. 

In Howard Goldenthal's documentary, Year Zero Plus 50, he follows the stories of survivors of that era. For them, the quest for justice remains. 

Produced by Howard Goldenthal and Joan Webber, originally aired on Sunday Magazine.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit