Great film, with minor complaints

Rating: 8/10 (12 February 2003)

My complaints with this film probably are more pronouned now, because I'm watching this film for the first time in 2003. I must admit, I'm almost completely ignorant of Cambodia's plight during the period covered, and since I'm watching this movie in 2003 instead of 1984 the topic is no longer in the mainstream media.
Although the human drama told within this story was great, and therefore I still gave this movie a good rating. (8) I did not give it higher, because I felt the movie didn't provide enough background information about the country's plight to us uneducated. You could argue that it's not exactly what the movie was trying to do, but I felt it would have improved my enjoyment of the film.
Also the movie often switches between three languages. Although I speak English and French, I do not understand Khmer(?). This often left me guessing what was going on, and a little confused. This could have easily been averted by using subtitles.
Anyway, an excellent story, told very well, my complaints are minor.