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The Killing Fields (1984)
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Overview
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Release Date:
2 November 1984 (USA) moreTagline:
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. morePlot:
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. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 23 wins & 18 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(22 articles)
Puttnam Urges Filmmakers To Make A Difference In British National Party Battle (From WENN. 23 June 2009, 6:30 PM, PDT)
Puttnam: 'The Killing Fields Helped Prevent Civil War In The Ukraine'
(From WENN. 23 June 2009, 3:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
One of the most beautiful and moving films ever made. moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Sam Waterston | ... | Sydney Schanberg | |
| Haing S. Ngor | ... | Dith Pran (as Dr. Haing S Ngor) | |
| John Malkovich | ... | Alan 'Al' Rockoff | |
| Julian Sands | ... | John Swain | |
| Craig T. Nelson | ... | Major Reeves | |
| Spalding Gray | ... | U.S. Consul | |
| Bill Paterson | ... | Dr. MacEntire | |
| Athol Fugard | ... | Dr. Sundesval | |
| Graham Kennedy | ... | Dougal | |
| Katherine Krapum Chey | ... | Ser Moeum | |
| Oliver Pierpaoli | ... | Titony | |
| Edward Entero Chey | ... | Sarun | |
| Tom Bird | ... | U.S. Military Advisor | |
| Monirak Sisowath | ... | Phat - Khmer Rouge Leader | |
| Lambool Dtangpaibool | ... | Phat's Son |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
141 minCountry:
UKColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/16 | UK:15Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Roy Scheider, Alan Arkin and Dustin Hoffman all expressed a keen interest in the lead role in the film. However, producer David Puttnam and director Roland Joffé had already decided to use Sam Waterston. The studio were not too happy with the decision to cast a relatively unknown actor in the lead, and Puttnam and Joffe were afraid that with the interest expressed by such well known performers as Hoffman, the studio may actually force them to cast someone other than Waterston. As such, when describing what the shoot would involve, they greatly exaggerated the danger of the location shoots, leading to most of the interested actors dropping out. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: At the village of Neak Leung, a soldier is listening to Band on the Run by Wings. The accidental bombing of Neak Leung occurred in August 1973; the album Band on the Run was not released until October of that year. moreQuotes:
[listening to BBC reporter Hugh Elder's broadcast on the radio]Jon Swain: Where do they get this crap?
Al Rockoff: That guy across the gate there. The little guy. Could we all not look at once, please? I have it on reliable sources that that's none other than Hugh Elder.
Jon Swain: You're kidding ...
Al Rockoff: He's disguised, but I got a little suspicious about it, you know what I mean?
Dith Pran: How does he get his copy out?
Al Rockoff: How does he get his copy out? Specially trained hens. Yeah, the BBC has commissioned them to walk past the Khmer Rouge like they're regular fowl, and then they've been crossing the border into Thailand every day and every night.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (2006) (TV) moreSoundtrack:
Band On The Run moreFAQ
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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...