Fields Of Gold They Ain't...

Rating: 7/10 (16 December 2013)

A story about friendship and survival. If you're a journalist, you might be committed to your job, but perhaps you SHOULD be committed by agreeing to carry out reports from some of the warzones you get posted to. Especially in 1970s Cambodia, which is right on the cusp of Vietnam... and we all know what happened there in that decade. To risk getting shot and blown up every day... just for a few paragraphs in your local paper... nope, not worth it. The only column inches you could be taking up soon are in the obituary section.
So this American reporter is right in the middle of the fighting, and together with two of his colleagues and a local translator, try to stick around for as long as possible... but are told to flee the country when things start getting too hot. But the three USA journos have made friends with the native guy, and they want to take him along. But after a failed attempt at giving him a phony passport, they're forced to leave him behind in the hands of a new fanatical regime. This sets up the best part of the film, as the newsmen try to track him down from the States while he suffers at the hands of his sadistic captors...
Based on a true story, it is impeccably acted and holds the attention till the end, as danger lurks round every corner and people take extraordinary risks to help those they care about. It just goes to show that even in this hell on earth, lifelong friendships can be formed and whatever happens, NEVER give up hope. It's such an easy thing to say... but until you find yourself in a situation like the translator, how do you know if you'll cope? I pray you never have to find out... 7/10