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The Killing Fields (1984) 7.9
A photographer is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody "Year Zero" cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million "undesirable" civilians. Director:Roland JofféWriter:Bruce Robinson (screenplay) |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Sam Waterston | ... | ||
| Haing S. Ngor | ... |
Dith Pran
(as Dr. Haing S Ngor)
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| John Malkovich | ... |
Alan 'Al' Rockoff
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| Julian Sands | ... |
John Swain
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| Craig T. Nelson | ... |
Major Reeves
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| Spalding Gray | ... |
U.S. Consul
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| Bill Paterson | ... |
Dr. MacEntire
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Athol Fugard | ... |
Dr. Sundesval
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Graham Kennedy | ... |
Dougal
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Katherine Krapum Chey | ... |
Ser Moeum
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Oliver Pierpaoli | ... |
Titony
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Edward Entero Chey | ... |
Sarun
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Tom Bird | ... |
U.S. Military Advisor
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Monirak Sisowath | ... |
Phat - Khmer Rouge Leader
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Lambool Dtangpaibool | ... |
Phat's Son
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Sydney Schanberg is a New York Times journalist covering the civil war in Cambodia. Together with local representative Dith Pran, they cover some of the tragedy and madness of the war. When the American forces leave, Dith Pran sends his family with them, but stays behind himself to help Schanberg cover the event. As an American, Schanberg won't have any trouble leaving the country, but the situation is different for Pran; he's a local, and the Khmer Rouge are moving in. Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>
Taglines:
He was a reporter for the New York Times whose coverage of the Cambodian War would win him a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. But the friend who made it possible was half the world away with his life in great danger... This is the story of war and friendship, the anguish of a country and of one man's will to live. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKRelease Date:
1 February 1985 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Los gritos del silencio See more »Box Office
Gross:
$34,600,000 (USA)Company Credits
Production Co:
Enigma Productions, Goldcrest Films International, International Film Investors See more »
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Sydney Schanberg: Cambodia. To many westerners it seemed a paradise. Another world, a secret world. But the war in neighboring Vietnam burst its borders, and the fighting soon spread to neutral Cambodia. In 1973 I went to cover this side-show struggle as a foreign correspondent of the New York Times. It was there, in the war-torn country side amidst the fighting between government troops and the Khmer Rouge guerrillas, that I met my guide and interpreter, Dith Pran, a man who was to change my life ...
See more »
Written by John Lennon (uncredited)
Performed by John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
Courtesy of EMI Records Limited
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
At the time of the film's release, the Ukraine was a deeply polarized country, with many commentators feeling that Civil War was inevitable. The film was a big success in the country, especially amongst children, and it was used in schools to show the younger generation what happens when a nation implodes. According to producer David Puttnam, during the Orange Revolution, the main reason there was never much of a possibility of a civil war breaking out, was because the generation staging the revolution had been inculcated by the film not to go down that road. See more »Goofs
When Schanberg and Pran visit the city of Neak Leung (which had just been accidentally hit by a B-52 strike) a group of Cambodian National Army operatives rush into town in a jeep. The song "Band on the Run" by Paul McCartney and Wings is blaring, supposedly from a radio on the jeep. While the scene was to have taken place in May, 1973, the song "Band on the Run" was not released until 1974. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Sydney Schanberg: Cambodia. To many westerners it seemed a paradise. Another world, a secret world. But the war in neighboring Vietnam burst its borders, and the fighting soon spread to neutral Cambodia. In 1973 I went to cover this side-show struggle as a foreign correspondent of the New York Times. It was there, in the war-torn country side amidst the fighting between government troops and the Khmer Rouge guerrillas, that I met my guide and interpreter, Dith Pran, a man who was to change my life ...
See more »
Soundtracks
"Imagine"Written by John Lennon (uncredited)
Performed by John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
Courtesy of EMI Records Limited
See more »
First of all I love this genre of movie; I'm not a huge fan of action or fantasy or romance movies, I have so-called "comedies" but I love genuine FILM, as in FILM not MOVIE; art as opposed to enterprise.
This film, The Killing Fields, is one of the defining films in it's class; based on the true story of an American journalist (one Sydney Schanberg) working in Cambodia and his guide/interpreter; a Cambodian named Dith Pran. When the Khmer Rouge (probably one of the most vicious and barbaric regimes in history) takes power the Westerners flee. The enterprising American, however, remains behind with his faithful guide (who sends his family off to America). This turns out to be a bad decision; through a series of misadventures Dith Pran cannot escape Cambodia and must remain behind while his friend flees. The movie weaves a wonderful tale of adventure, misadventure, loss, suffering, death, and reunion (in no particular order).
This movie is so beautiful and touching (and so very graphic) that one cannot help but be affected by it; a must-see, one of the defining movies on the subject of war as well as loss and certainly the most evocative film about the Khmer Rouge and the Viet Nam War in Cambodia. A beautiful film about war and tragedy but filled with hope throughout...