The Killing Fields (1984)

7.8R139 minDirector: Roland Joffé

1984 film by Roland Joffé

The Killing Fields is a 1984 British biographical drama film about the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, which is based on the experiences of two journalists, Cambodian Dith Pran and American Sydney Schanberg. It was directed by Roland Joffé and produced by David Puttnam for Goldcrest Films. Sam Waterston stars as Schanberg, Haing S. Ngor as Pran, and John Malkovich as Al Rockoff. The adaptation for the screen was written by Bruce Robinson; the musical score was written by Mike Oldfield and orchestrated by David Bedford; and the costumes were designed by Judy Moorcroft.

The film was a success at the box office and an instant hit with critics. At the 57th Academy Awards it received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture; it won three, most notably Best Supporting Actor for Haing S. Ngor, who had no previous acting experience, as well as Best Cinematography and Best Editing. At the 38th British Academy Film Awards, it won eight BAFTAs, including Best Film and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Ngor.

In 1999, the British Film Institute voted The Killing Fields the 100th-greatest British film of the 20th century. It is now seen as one of the greatest films of all time.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Killing Fields about?
The Killing Fields (1984) — Sydney Schanberg is a New York Times journalist covering the civil war in Cambodia. Together with the local journalist Dith Pran, they cover some of the tragedy and madness of the war. When the American forces leave, Dith Pran sends his family with them, but stays behind himself
Is The Killing Fields based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Killing Fields scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.
What is The Killing Fields (1984) about? Plot, synopsis and ending explained — Screencodex