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The Killing Fields

  • 19841984
  • RR
  • 2h 21m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
55K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,528
952
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Sam Waterston in The Killing Fields (1984)
Home Video Trailer from Lionsgate
Play trailer2:27
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History

A journalist is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody 'Year Zero' cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million 'undesirable' civilians.A journalist is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody 'Year Zero' cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million 'undesirable' civilians.A journalist is trapped in Cambodia during tyrant Pol Pot's bloody 'Year Zero' cleansing campaign, which claimed the lives of two million 'undesirable' civilians.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
55K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,528
952
  • Director
    • Roland Joffé
  • Writer
    • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Sam Waterston
    • Haing S. Ngor
    • John Malkovich
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roland Joffé
  • Writer
    • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Sam Waterston
    • Haing S. Ngor
    • John Malkovich
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 225User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 28 wins & 22 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Killing Fields
    Trailer 2:27
    The Killing Fields

    Photos120

    Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Sam Waterston in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    John Malkovich, Julian Sands, Sam Waterston, and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    John Malkovich, Julian Sands, and Sam Waterston in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    The Killing Fields (1984)
    Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)
    The Killing Fields (1984)
    Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • Sydney Schanbergas Sydney Schanberg
    Haing S. Ngor
    Haing S. Ngor
    • Dith Pranas Dith Pran
    John Malkovich
    John Malkovich
    • Al Rockoffas Al Rockoff
    Julian Sands
    Julian Sands
    • Jon Swainas Jon Swain
    Craig T. Nelson
    Craig T. Nelson
    • Military Attachéas Military Attaché
    Spalding Gray
    Spalding Gray
    • U.S. Consulas U.S. Consul
    Bill Paterson
    Bill Paterson
    • Dr. MacEntireas Dr. MacEntire
    Athol Fugard
    Athol Fugard
    • Dr. Sundesvalas Dr. Sundesval
    Graham Kennedy
    Graham Kennedy
    • Dougalas Dougal
    Katherine Krapum Chey
    • Ser Moeum (Pran's Wife)as Ser Moeum (Pran's Wife)
    Oliver Pierpaoli
    • Titony (Pran's Son)as Titony (Pran's Son)
    Edward Entero Chey
    • Sarunas Sarun
    Tom Bird
    • U.S. Military Advisoras U.S. Military Advisor
    Monirak Sisowath
    • Phat (K.R. Leader 2nd Village)as Phat (K.R. Leader 2nd Village)
    Lambool Dtangpaibool
    • Phat's Sonas Phat's Son
    Ira Wheeler
    • Ambassador Wadeas Ambassador Wade
    David Henry
    • Franceas France
    Patrick Malahide
    Patrick Malahide
    • Morganas Morgan
    • Director
      • Roland Joffé
    • Writer
      • Bruce Robinson(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Sydney Schanberg is a New York Times journalist covering the civil war in Cambodia. Together with the local journalist 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. —Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>
    • khmer rouge
    • cambodia
    • genocide
    • escape attempt
    • prison camp
    • 77 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • 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.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • War
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In real life, Haing S. Ngor's wife died under the Khmer Rouge regime, haemorrhaging during childbirth (the baby also died). She knew that she couldn't contact her husband as doctors were all being murdered by the regime so by keeping her silence and dying of internal bleeding, she effectively saved his life.
    • Goofs
      When Dith Pran is in the French embassy, he is wearing his watch which he previously gave to a Khmer soldier in order to be taken with the American photographers.
    • Quotes

      [last lines - at their reunion, with warm smiles]

      Sydney Schanberg: You forgive me?

      Dith Pran: Nothing to forgive, Sydney. Nothing.

    • Connections
      Featured in Omnibus: The Killing Fields (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Imagine
      Written by John Lennon (uncredited)

      Performed by John Lennon & The The Plastic Ono Band (uncredited)

      Courtesy of EMI Records Limited

    User reviews225

    Review
    Top review
    Review
    The Killing Fields is one of the most influential films of the 20th century. Its provocative and dangerous subject matter stresses the importance of communication and the freedom to communicate. Based on the Khmer Rouge occupation and genocide of Cambodia in the 1970's, the film tells the story of two men, catapulted into chaos and peril.

    The movie is first and foremost, a historical account. The events are based off the true story of Dith Pran and Sydney Schanberg. Given that I had not known much about the Cambodian genocide of the 1970's prior to seeing this film, I must herald the piece as a successful feat of cinematography that served as both informational as well as inspirational. The film is believable, realistic, and heart wrenching. I immediately felt for the two main characters as they quickly exchanged trust and fell victim to the powers of political violence. While it is slightly romanticized, The Killing Fields still manages to produce a message with real life implications.
    helpful•18
    5
    • marykate_nyland
    • Sep 29, 2011

    FAQ12

    • Why did the picture of Pran in the fake passport fade? Why did Al and Jon have such a difficult time producing a photo of Pran?
    • What are/were the killing fields?
    • There are flashes of blue amongst the remains of the victims in the killing fields - what are those blue objects?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros. (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Central Khmer
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • The Killing Fields - Schreiendes Land
    • Filming locations
      • Phuket, Thailand
    • Production companies
      • Goldcrest Films International
      • International Film Investors
      • Enigma Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $14,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $34,700,291
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $32,181
      • Nov 4, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $34,700,291
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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