THE KILLING FIELDS

UK, 1984, 142 minutes, Colour.
Sam Waterston, Haing S.Ngor, John Malkovich, Athol Fuggard, Graham Kennedy, Craig T.Nelson, Spalding Gray, Julian Sands, Bill Paterson.
Directed by Roland Joffe.

The Killing Fields was produced by David Putnam - who has an excellent record in producing interesting and arresting films including Midnight Express, Chariots of Fire, Local Hero, Cal.

This moving story of Cambodia in the 70's has been filmed authentically in Thailand. We share in a powerful cinematic experience: American bombing (ordered and denied by Richard Nixon and U.S. authorities), the evacuation of 1975, the Khmer Rouge take-over, their concentration camps and indoctrination.

The film is based on a true story of Sidney Schanberg and his Cambodian assistant Dith Pran. The second half of the film shows Pran's internment in a concentration camp and his heroic escape and journey to Thailand. While Sam Waterston portrays Schanberg well, Dr Haing S Ngor brings dignity and pathos to his portrayal of Pran. Waterston was nominated for an Oscar. Dr Ngor won best supporting actor Oscar.

The film, director Roland Joffe and technical achievements were nominated for Oscars (winning the editing award). There is an interesting supporting cast including South African Athol Fuggard, Australian Graham Kennedy and American John Malkovich.

It is important for films like this to help audiences to realise the enormity of the Vietnam War and its aftermath as well as its toll of suffering.

1. An important film? Impact? Acclaim?

2. A British perspective on the Vietnam War, on Cambodia? a European view of Asia? of America? the international flavour of the film - especially in its presentation of the international group of journalists? The film's view of the War, of Khmer Rouge? Helping audience understanding, emotion? audiences involved, observers? an assessment of the 70's, of the wars and policies, of the role of the media? the importance of such presentations oppression, suffering?

3. The sources of the film: Sidney Schanberg and his memoirs, his experiences, the reporting of the war, his relationship with Pran, the crises, the chaos, his return to America, efforts to search for Pran? Pran's story - the Kampuchean view, the experience of the war, internment, suffering and escape? How well did the two strands blend in the screenplay?

4. The Asian locations, the use of Thailand for authenticity? The cities, the countryside? The re-creation of the war, cities being bombed, the sufferings of people? The prison and escape sequences? The contrast with the familiar United States? The stunt work and action photography, staging and authenticity? The atmosphere created by the musical score?

5. The significance of the Vietnam war in Asia itself, in America, in Europe, throughout the world? The West's attitude toward Communists? The domino theory? The dangers of Vietnam, communist control for the West? The involvement of the United States? The particular kind of warfare in South-East? Asia? The identity of the enemy? Truth and lies? A war able to be won or not? The importance of American attitudes, the bombings of Cambodia? The support of the Khmer Rouge? Their behaviour, oppression, cutting off Kampuchea, atrocities, indoctrination, refugees? The film's judgement on the situation in Kampuchea?

6. The portrait of Schanberg and identification by Western audiences? as a personality, his integrity, skill as a reporter? seeing him at work? on the spot, travelling to trouble spots, wangling deals, his cameraman, his eye for detail? contacts audiences seeing the first raid through his eyes, reacting? his report? his effectiveness - as a journalist? his relationship with the international group of journalists? his relationship with Pran, his help? work, translation, interpretation? the bond between the two - as brothers? the growing crisis and his wanting to get Pran out, his family? the family leaving, Pran staying? the internment? covering for Pran? the refuge in the French embassy? the ploy with the documents, the haste? The Khmer's and their reaction? the takeover, his own imprisonment, the treatment of the journalists, Pran unable to help them? the imprisonment, the interrogation? the evacuation? Schanberg as a character, his taking his place back in America, his work, awards, his contacts, the search for Pran? the final return and reunion?

7. Pran embodying the attitudes of Cambodia? his skill at his work, contacts, information, interpretation, his wisdom? highlighting the relations between East and West in the 60's and 70's? his skills, his dignity? relationship with his family - the dilemma about staying or going? seeing his family off and his decision to stay? his motives and their consequences? the internment, the attempts to help free the international journalists? the passport ploy and its failure? his hopes? the takeover of the Khmer Rouge? his being imprisoned? the experience of prison, his being a servant of Phat? the work, the indoctrination, the humiliations? his listening to the radio and his being uncovered? Phat asking him to take his child? the escape, the journey, the landscapes of death, the skeletons, the destruction? the beauty and harshness of nature? the death of the child? his freedom, reconciliation, - friendship and reunion with Sidney? the aftermath and audience knowledge of his career in America? a sympathetic performance? an Oscar winning performance?

8. The journalists and their role, reporters, uncovering the truth, the travel, danger, photography? their status as international journalists? the experience of the war and its effect on them? the horror and pain? their careers - coping with the war, their camaraderie? their being taken by the Khmer Rouge, the French embassy, the imprisonment, the interrogations? their being evacuated the Australian journalist and his character, Grahame Kennedy's style? his influence? the concern for the Kampucheans? their scheme for the passport for Pran?

9. Al Rockoff and his skill as a photographer, working with Schamberg, friendship with Pran? his reaction to Schamberg in the aftermath in the United States? his accusations and conscience?

10. The sketch of military attaches, diplomats, the doctors and there having to cope with so many patients? Their international presence? help and helplessness?

11. The background of the war and the United States, truth and lies, the role of President Nixon?

12. The effect of the bombings on Kampuchea? the experience of pain and suffering? violence?

13. The solemn arrival of the Khmer, the hopes, the disappointments? the transition? cruelty, the internment camps, treatment, the overseers? the atmosphere of concentration camps, loss of identity, dignity, pride? the routine, slavery, work in the fields? the indoctrination lessons, the erasing of memory and history?

14. Pran as Phat's servant, his listening to the radio? the child bequeathed to him, the journey, the death of the child? his survival?

15. The contrast between the United States and Cambodia, the way of life in East and West?

16. The finale with the reconciliation, the peacefulness of Thailand - and John Lennon's "Imagine"? The visual critique of the U.S. and it's involvement?

17. A war film? the film's taking sides, perspectives? dramatising war issues? propaganda? a human rather than a political statement? a film of anguish?