New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg is on assignment covering the Cambodian Civil War, with the help of local interpreter Dith Pran and American photojournalist Al Rockoff. When the U.S. Army pulls out amid escalating violence, Schanberg makes exit arrangements for Pran and his family. Pran, however, tells Schanberg he intends to stay in Cambodia to help cover the unfolding story — a decision he may regret as the Khmer Rouge rebels move in.
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Reviews
Well, casting Julian Sands was the right decision because you can't go through hell without something beautiful to look at. He's gorgeous! So, allow me to be shallow, because this film's set is entirely made of human bodies, dead, half-dead, dismembered, bleeding, rotting, sick children, dead children, wounded children crying and then there's mud, mud, mud, more mud and dirt... it's hell on earth. Yes, the film looks great, if you can stomach it, with the soundtrack that would make your hair stand on end. But, without the photojournalists in action, it would have been a little too boring. The most exciting scenes are the passport forging scenes. That one made me think - how I miss REAL MEN on screen. And in 'real life'. The four leading actors, Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich and Julian Sands all have such a strong presence. With each Haing S. Ngor closeup, I want to cry. Here is something real. I am sorry that journalism has since become a joke.
The 1970's was a time of tremendous political upheaval in the US. In The Killing Fields, Cambodia is the canvas, while politics, journalism, friendship, and the human will are the paints used to depict an in-your- face, true story of survival against all odds. The US government takes its lumps as we abuse, then abandon a people who are then embroiled in a bloody internal cleansing that kills several million Cambodians. The journalists Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) and local Dith Pran (Dr Ngor) capture and transmit the daily atrocities back to the states for US consumption. Dr Ngor was an actual survivor of the real Killing Fields. How he had he courage to portray Dith Pran, I don't know, but it speaks to the courage he had, and apparently to promises he made to his wife to educate the world about what happened in Cambodia. That Dr Ngor won an Academy Award is astonishing, but after you watch this movie, you really feel like you lived through this horrific event because of Ngor's tremendous performance.Sam Waterston also turned in a strong performance as Shanberg. He realizes he took advantage of Pran as a means to his own ends, but by then, it's too late. Waterston was at his best when he stands toe to toe with Army reps, like Craig T. Nelson (from Coach), or the politicians. But near the end, when he has to take criticism from his own colleague who was with him (terrific performance by John Malkovich by the way), Waterston has no valid reply, and he knows it.The war scenes are incredibly real, the suffering in the killing fields is palpable, and the hopelessness of those trying to stem the entire unimaginable craze of hatred overtaking the Khmer Rouge is smothering.Some scenes are a bit long, and the ending would have been better without that particular song,which introduced a bit too much of a Hollywood ending at just the wrong time. Still, this is a must-see film that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Enjoy.
Roland Joffe directed this powerful true story about New York Times journalist Sydney Schanberg(played by Sam Waterston) who is covering the Cambodian Civil War in 1975 with the help of local journalist Dith Pran(played by Dr. Haing S. Ngor, who won a best supporting actor Academy Award) who stays behind with him when the Khmer Rouge won the war, putting Pran's life in danger, though he saves Sydney's life, even though this leads to him being imprisoned in labor camps, where the communist revolution of Pol Pot proves devastating for all, while back in the U.S., Sydney does all he can to help Pran... Superbly directed and acted film vividly shows the chaos and evil of the Cambodian communist revolution, leading to a most moving ending, with the song being played proving to be a bittersweet irony.
The film is a drama about Cambodia war, which last from 1967 to 1975. Action takes place in the last years of the conflict. Sydney (Sam Waterston) is an American journalist covering the war at the peak of the violence displayed by the government: the Khmer rouge. The plot is based on Sydney's friend: Dith Pran (Haing S. Nor). He is a Cambodian photographer and journalist. Both of them usually face risky situations in different cities where the government is killing innocent people. For instance, a city called Neak Luong, which is destroyed, by mistake, by the American air force in 1973. The ruling party decides to expel foreigners and this represents a twist in the story. Both characters are forced to be separated; and facing opposite situations. Dith has to live in a concentration camp. In this place all the citizens were forced to work and to accept the party's ideas. If they did not obey, then they were killed. On the other hand, Sydney returns to a safe America. He begins the search of his friend and colleague in hopes of finding him alive. I enjoyed the film. However, the plot is sad and sometimes cruel. I highly recommend it because the story is still relevant.
