Cambodia, bloody fields of death

Rating: 9/10 (18 February 2014)

This great Salvadorian type movie for me was one cinematic experience, as I was two months shy of my fifteenth birthday. I had seen it with my folks. I opted to see Beverley Hills Cop, my Mum opted for Places In The Heart. Dad opted for this. He won, and I'm glad he did. I had overheard an old woman saying "Fancy letting a kid like that into a film like this". All I can say, is I'm glad I was, as this film opened my eyes to the realities and horror of war. Although more a political film, than a war movie, The Killing Fields has some stark and confronting images, one I never got out of my head, was that blood being swept off the top of that staircase like rubbish. The Killing Fields is a biographical account of two tight journalists, one who's really experienced war, up close, a first hand witness to the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. Unfortunately this journo, Dith Pran ( wonderfully played by the "much left us too soon actor" Haing S 'Ngor who really puts real life into the role- Oscar naturel) becomes a hostage, but manages to escape, another haunting scene has him wading quietly through a canal of skulls. It really becomes a vital want for audience through gruelling suspense to see this guy get back with his journalist mate. We really fear for him. The film has a surprise cast, none more than Graham Kennedy, while Waterston still, I believe, did his best work here in the lead as Pran's hot shot journo mate, while unearthed here too, was the great John Malcovich, and obscure star, then, Julian Sands, completing the chain of journo's. But what I love about the film, is it's more real, than movie, It really follows through on the facts, and what unfolds is a film of excellence by any measure. See this film if just once, please.