The Killing Fields

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Ashequl I @Tofa13 Jul 9 The Killing Fields is a towering, emotionally devastating achievement that brilliantly documents the horrific rise and cruelty of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. At its core, the film features an incredibly powerful screenplay about the deep bond and ultimate separation of an American journalist and his local guide. The raw violence and depictions of the labor camps are genuinely terrifying, completely avoiding Hollywood sensationalism to deliver the unvarnished truth. Because the direction relies heavily on a gritty, newsreel-style photojournalism aesthetic, it functions perfectly as an elite docudrama, though it deliberately lacks the typical slick, polished pacing of a traditional cinematic thriller. Haing S. Ngor gives a career-defining, heartbreaking performance that makes this an essential, unforgettable watch. See more Jerod S @jeroduptown Jun 30 Cambodian civil war was terrible - but this movie draws it out and drags through it. Young Malcovich. See more John F @RT84127024 May 27 Watched it again after many years and it is as relevant as ever. Besides a score that is overbearing/distracting at times (though the use of "Band on the Run" was quite appropriate for that scene), the production is magnificent winning deserved awards for stunning cinematography and editing (one execution of a KR soldier looks far too real). Some critics point out that this film is from a Western perspective, and that's the point in a way although the switch to Pran's time in "the killing fields" is absolutely brilliant for having his character with that very ingroup perspective (marked by his narration in English recounting the events he experienced). Far too few films put the blame on the west (French, British, and American are all indicted here) for their crimes against humanity, and this film does just that (even if making that connection might be too subtle for some). It's little wonder that this was NOT a Hollywood/USA-produced film. See more Max M. @Househuntermax May 27 It’s important to know these horrific things happen in history. Recent history even. 70s weren’t that long ago. It’s a good movie to see, but I wouldn’t wanna watch it again. See more Jacob B @RT48293763 May 14 Filmed and acted with such skill and style that it frequently feels more like a war documentary than a Hollywood film. See more Lorenz L @Lorenz1060 Apr 10 What was still topical and relevant in 1984 has not aged well. The first 105 minutes are basically incoherent chaos: there is not enough backstory to explain what we are watching more than 40 years later. The film opens in 1973 and then suddenly we are in 1975 without any clear knowledge of how we got there and why. Add the mix of languages, and the absence of subtitles for the long sequences spoken (or yelled) in the Khmer language, and when some semblance of narrative arrives, it is far too late for the confusing boredom we’ve been asked to endure. The acting from Sam Waterston and John Malkovich is decent, but never rises above adequate. We eventually learn the centre of the story is the life of Dith Pran, portrayed by non-professional actor Dr Haing S. Ngor (as he is billed in the credits). As harsh as this may sound, he was a Cambodian prisoner portraying a Cambodian prisoner. His win for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar seems to be based more in politics than in artistry. See more Read all reviews

The Killing Fields

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