The Killing Fields

Roland Joff�'s unflinching drama recounts the true story of New York Times journalist Sidney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) and Cambodian journalist and translator Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor), who found themselves trapped in the nightmare of the Khmer Rouge revolution in Cambodia. While stationed in Phnom Penh in the early 1970s, Schanberg and Pran become close friends and confidants, negotiating and writing many groundbreaking stories. When the ruling Lon Nol government is overthrown by the Khmer Rouge, the country is turned upside down--killing is common in the streets, and children become gun-toting informants. Schanberg is forced to flee the country, with his fellow American photographer Al Rockoff (John Malkovich) and British journalist Jon Swain (Julian Sands). Despite their exhaustive efforts to free Pran, they have no choice but to leave him behind. Pran is forced to endure excruciating agony at the Pol Pot death camps, where any shred of individuality or dissent is beaten out of the prisoners. After years of brutal torture, Pran manages to escape and begins a long odyssey to Thailand and the border refugee camps. As Pran struggles to stay alive, Schanberg endures life in New York wracked with guilt over the loss of his good friend, desperately attempting to locate him. This haunting drama is epic in its portrayal of a war-torn country devastated by mass genocide. Images of both great horror and beauty resonate with awesome power and honesty. Joff�'s first film features superb performances from a first-rate ensemble of actors, including Waterston, Sands, Malkovich, and Ngor in an Oscar-winning role.

Cast:

Year - Presenter		Award Category		Result		Name
1984 - Academy Awards		Best Cinematography		Winner		Chris Menges
1984 - Academy Awards		Best Film Editing		Winner		Not Applicable
1984 - Academy Awards		Best Supporting Actor		Winner		Haing S. Ngor

"...Great care and respect....The performances are uniformly fine..." -- Vincent Canby , (New York Times)

"...Intelligent....[The] picture is terrifically successful in physically evoking its time and place..." -- Cart. , (Variety)

"...[An] expertly paced dissection of this horrific chapter in Cambodia's life..." -- Danny Leigh , (Sight and Sound)

"Malkovich often commands our fascination while playing the most unsavory characters....A harrowing tableau." -- Andy Webster , (Premiere)

"[T]here is a genuine sense of catharsis in the final reunion." -- Matthew Leyland , (Sight and Sound)

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