Harrowing

Rating: 8/10 (3 August 2005)

The Killing fields takes the great tragedy of Cambodia and America's involvement in its fall all the more harrowing and comprehensible by centering its story telling on two men, one American and one Cambodian. The American is a journalist for (if I recall correctly) the New York Times, while the Cambodian is a local colleague name Dith Pran (played by a real-life escapee from the killing fields). The early stages noisily illustrate the collapse of Cambodia under the strain of American interference aimed at supporting the South Vietnamese government climaxing in the chaotic scenes at the American embassy as the American journalist tries and fails to get his colleague onto the helicopters to safety.
The emotional heart of the movie is, however, the quieter second half as Pranh faces the deadly "re-education camps" and finally escapes to freedom.
The Oscar winning cinematography is excellent but the film just fails to make it into the "great" category due to a slightly stilted script and (despite nominations for both leads - and a win for Haing Ngor as supporting actor, when he was actually lead) acting.
Well worth your time and money, especially if you can see and hear it on the big screen.