Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18396 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-01-01
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 136 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
This harrowing but rewarding 1984 drama concerns the real-life relationship between New York Times reporter Sidney Schanberg and his Cambodian assistant Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor), the latter left at the mercy of the Khmer Rouge after Schanberg--who chose to stay after American evacuation but was booted out--failed to get him safe passage. Filmmaker Roland Joffé, previously a documentarist, made his feature debut with this account of Dith's rocky survival in the ensuing madness of the Khmer Rouge's genocidal campaign. The script of The Killing Fields spends some time with Schanberg's feelings of guilt after the fact, but most of the movie is a shattering re-creation of hell on Earth. The late Haing S. Ngor--a real-life doctor who had never acted before and who lived through the events depicted by Joffé--is outstanding, and he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Oscars also went to cinematographer Chris Menges and editor Jim Clark. --Tom Keogh

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
Roland Joffe's unflinching drama recounts the true story of New York Times journalist Sidney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) and Cambodian journalist and translator Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor), who found themselves trapped in the nightmare of the Khmer Rouge revolution in Cambodia. While stationed in Phnom Penh in the early 1970s, Schanberg and Pran become close friends and confidants, negotiating and writing many groundbreaking stories. When the ruling Lon Nol government is overthrown by the Khmer Rouge, the country is turned upside down--killing is common in the streets, and children become gun-toting informants. Schanberg is forced to flee the country, with his fellow American photographer Al Rockoff (John Malkovich) and British journalist Jon Swain (Julian Sands). Despite their exhaustive efforts to free Pran, they have no choice but to leave him behind. Pran is forced to endure excruciating agony at the Pol Pot death camps, where any shred of individuality or dissent is beaten out of the prisoners. After years of brutal torture, Pran manages to escape and begins a long odyssey to Thailand and the border refugee camps. As Pran struggles to stay alive, Schanberg endures life in New York wracked with guilt over the loss of his good friend, desperately attempting to locate him. This haunting drama is epic in its portrayal of a war-torn country devastated by mass genocide. Images of both great horror and beauty resonate with awesome power and honesty. Joffe's first film features superb performances from a first-rate ensemble of actors, including Waterston, Sands, Malkovich, and Ngor in an Oscar-winning role.

Customer Reviews

A remakable testimount to a real life friendship
'Now is the year 0 and everything must start anew... I am full of fear Sydney, I must have no past, this is the year 0 and nothing has gone before'

These are the words spoken by Dith Pran as images of the unspeakable horrors of the Cambodian revolution fill the screen. The Killing Fields is a film that leaves a lasting emotional impression.

It portrays the real life friendship between NY Times correspondent Sydney Schomberg (Sam Waterson) and his Cambodian interpreter Dith Pran (Haing Ngor). The film depicts events stretching over a seven-year period, from the 1973 American bombing of Neak Luang village, to the Khmer Rouge takeover in 1975, and their eventual fall following the 1978 Vietnamese invasion. With such a difficult and disturbing subject matter and a complex timeframe the film could easily have floundered. Instead it succeeds because it filters these events through the eyes of two men, which bestows it with a real interpretive power.
It is superficially similar to Salvador directed by Oliver Stone. Both films critique the negative consequences of American military involvement in poor war-torn countries by depicting the work of journalists. However, inspite of the fact that the guilt of Schomberg at leaving his friend to suffer in Cambodia is intended to mirror the wider American involvement and subsequent neglect of that country (portrayed in one powerful scene), the content is never as bluntly political. It is very much more a personal account, and whilst the images shock, they are naturalistic in style and never as over-blown as in Salvador. The performances are very strong and full of integrity. Particularly moving is Ngor, whose Oscar winning portrayal of Dith Pran struggling to survive the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime is drawn from his own personal experience as a survivor of the atrocities. This film draws attention to one of the most regrettable chapters in recent history, and that in itself is valuable. However, perhaps its most remarkable achievement is to demonstrate in an extremely moving account the resilience of the human spirit in the face of despair.

Is this a war film???
Forget the fact that this is an incredibly well crafted film. Forget that the soundtrack is a master piece. The acting, though superb, isn't the reason to watch this film either.

Why is it so good then?

This is a love story, about the love between two men. It is harrowing, heartwrenching, breathtaking and overpowering. It follows the plights of both men, thousands of miles apart, one fighting for his life, the other fighting with his guilt.

Dith Pran (Dr Ngor), victim of the brutal Khymer Rouge, has got to be one of the most convincing portrayals of fear and depseration ever captured on film. If you can watch his plight and remained unmoved, then seek clinical help, your heart has stopped!

If by the end of this film, you haven't choked back a large amount of tears, then rewind it, because you didn't see it, you only watched it!

Unsurpassed
The Killing Fields is probably my favorite film of all time. I find it difficult to describe this film; most of the words I can think of seem to do it a gross injustice. I think 'enjoyable' might not be a word I would choose simply because its portrayal of life under the Khmer Rouge is so unbelievably harrowing. It's certainly upsetting and even unpleasant. Even so, it is without a doubt the most fulfilling and worthwhile film I've ever seen.

The whole thing builds up to the final scene which, although very short and simple, can't fail to wrench at your heart. I last saw it many years ago and it brings tears to my eyes just to think of it - no kidding. If you're a bit girlie, you'll need some tissues on standby. If you're a big tough guy, you'll have to ask your girl for some !