CITY OF GHOSTS

US, 2002, 116 minutes, Colour.
Matt Dillon, James Caan, Natascha Mc Elhone, Gerard Depardieu, Kem Sereyvuth, Stellan Skarsgard, Rose Byrne.
Directed by Matt Dillon.

City of Ghosts is a story about American fraud but the action takes place mainly in Cambodia. The film boasts very interesting Cambodian settings and scenery, villages and roads, considered one of the first films made in Cambodia after its harrowing experience of the Pol Pot era.

The cast is quite eclectic, Dillon and Caan from the United States, Natascha Mc Elhone from England, Depardieu from France, Stellan Skarsgard from Sweden, Rose Byrne from Australia. Kem Sereyvuth portrays Sok, the taxi driver, perhaps the only really sympathetic character in the film.

One commentator likened the plot to that of Graham Greene’s The Third Man. This is an interesting comparison, Matt Dillon playing Jimmy, a young man befriended by a wealthy man, Marvin, played by James Caan. However, it is revealed that Marvin is an exploiter of the locals, committing fraud in the United States, the victims being people who had insured their homes against storm but find that they cannot get any money. In the meantime, he is trying to engineer schemes in Cambodia, especially for building luxury casinos in leave with corrupt police and military. Some people complained that the film doesn’t offer a positive picture of Cambodia, rather emphasising the uglier aspects.

The story also offers a possibility of some kind of redemption for the Matt Dillon character. He encounters a young woman working in antiquies, has a relationship with her, goes to see her at the end, bringing the money that Marvin had accumulated, although giving most of it to his taxi driver, Sok. Gerard Depardieu plays the owner of a rundown bar. Stellan Skarsgaard portrays one of the partners in the fraud company, in love with a Thai woman, wanting to marry her. Rose Byrne is a friend of Natascha Mc Elhone.

The film is intriguing because of its settings, as well as its interesting take on honesty, fraud, sin, redemption. This is the only film directed by Matt Dillon.

1. A blend of the ordinary and the exotic? The contrast between the United States and Asia? New York City and Cambodia? The air of mystery, the suffering and the aftermath of the Pol Pot regime, a land of opportunity?

2. The vigils of Cambodia, the city, the streets, the bars and hotels, the contrast with the countryside, villages, mansions? The musical score – and the finale during the credits with a Cambodian version of Both Sides Now?

3. The work of the director, as director, as actor, working with the varied cast?

4. The introduction, the disasters on television, the ordinary people talking about getting their insurance, the introduction to Jimmy, the failed company, fraud, the FBI arriving, taking him to headquarters, the interrogation, the denials, his seeming innocence, the issue of his passport? The mystery about the fraudsters and what they had done? His escape to Asia?

5. The passport, his going to Bangkok, his meeting with Kaspar, Kaspar and his fiancée and their communication? The leads to find Marvin?

6. The issue of money, the money losses, Marvin and the fraud, his disappearance, indications that he was in Cambodia?

7. The bar, the various people sponging for drinks, later appearances, at the bar, getting money from Jimmy, their being taken, put in the Killing Fields, the mine explosions? Jimmy and Emile? Emile and his bar, the Depardieu style? Easygoing, but wanting his money, full of information, the issue of the passport, his giving support to Jimmy?

8. The meeting with Sok, his story, his father as a doctor, in the Pol Pot times, his large family, his children, their growing up, opportunities that he missed? His driving, rescuing Jimmy? The travel into the countryside? Jimmy and the gift of the car, Sok and his children, the gift of the money?

9. Sophie, her being accosted by the thugs, Jimmy saving her? Their conversation, their meetings, her work? The antiquities? Her knowing of Marvin? Their discussions, going out? Sabrina and her friend, the kind of life they led in Cambodia, the clubs? The friend, drugs, his death? Being pushed down the cliff face? Their rescuing him, the ceremony for his funeral? Sophie and her social life, the party, Jimmy leaving and going back to the town, the night with Jimmy, going on her expedition? Her being the end of the quest for Jimmy at the end of the film?

10. Kaspar and Marvin, their friendship, working together, the help? The rivalry of the Russians, their violence, influence in Thailand and Cambodia? The issue of the double-crossing, the local police, the police with Jimmy, Kaspar with Jimmy, the trip, putting the money in the tree, the little boy coming on the elephant and taking the money? Their being captured? Kaspar and his escaping? Kaspar and his return to the town, the death of his fiancée, the Russians killing him?

11. Marvin, as a character, his past, his relationship with Jimmy’s mother, his being Jimmy’s father, never speaking of this? His attempts to help in Jimmy’s life? The schemes, the frauds, his disappearance? The model of the casino, his plans with the locals? The Russians? His being abducted, the bag with his foot? Kaspar and the money? The final confrontation, his wanting to help Jimmy, the shootout, the local police, deaths?

12. Jimmy taking Marvin to hospital, the bond between them, his death? Allowing Jimmy to be free?

13. The plan, the money, the tree, the sage at the tree and the fee for the cigarettes after his explaining the lore? Kaspar and his hitting Jimmy, escaping? Sok? Returning? Their following the boy on the elephant for the final confrontation?

14. Jimmy and his final decision, his resolutions, the car, the money, giving things away, a new future, going to meet Sophie?