# The Killing Fields

> 1984 film by Roland Joffé

**Wikidata**: [Q494582](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q494582)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_Fields_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-killing-fields

## Summary
The Killing Fields is a 1984 biographical drama film directed by Roland Joffé that dramatizes the experiences of two journalists during the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. The film explores themes of friendship, survival, and the horrors of war through the true story of American journalist Sydney Schanberg and his Cambodian colleague Dith Pran.

## Key Facts
- Release date: January 1, 1984 (with additional release February 22, 1985)
- Director: Roland Joffé
- Genre: Biographical film, Drama film
- IMDb ID: tt0087553
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%
- Metacritic score: 76/100
- Runtime: 141 minutes
- Production companies: Warner Bros. Entertainment, The Ladd Company, Goldcrest Films
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Awards: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (Haing S. Ngor), Academy Award for Best Film Editing, Academy Award for Best Cinematography, National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Box office: $14,626,000 (estimated)
- Wikipedia sitelink count: 41 language editions

## FAQs
**What is the historical context of The Killing Fields?**
The film depicts the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia during 1975-1979, when Pol Pot's communist government forced urban residents into agricultural labor camps, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1.7 million people through execution, starvation, and disease. It specifically follows the fall of Phnom Penh in 1975 and the subsequent genocide.

**Who are the main characters in The Killing Fields?**
The film centers on Sydney Schanberg (played by Sam Waterston), an American journalist for The New York Times, and Dith Pran (played by Haing S. Ngor), his Cambodian interpreter and colleague. Their friendship and Pran's struggle for survival form the emotional core of the narrative.

**What awards did The Killing Fields win?**
The film won three Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Haing S. Ngor (making him the first Southeast Asian to win an Oscar), Best Film Editing, and Best Cinematography. It was also named to the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films list.

**How accurate is The Killing Fields to real events?**
The film is based on Sydney Schanberg's 1980 New York Times Magazine article "The Death and Life of Dith Pran" and is considered historically accurate in its depiction of the journalists' experiences and the Khmer Rouge regime's atrocities, though some dramatic liberties were taken for narrative purposes.

## Why It Matters
The Killing Fields serves as a powerful historical document that brought international attention to the Cambodian genocide, which had been largely unknown to Western audiences. The film's unflinching portrayal of the Khmer Rouge's brutality and the personal story of Dith Pran's survival helped raise awareness about one of the 20th century's worst humanitarian disasters. Its impact extended beyond entertainment, contributing to historical education and human rights advocacy. The film also broke significant ground in Hollywood by featuring Haing S. Ngor, a non-professional actor and actual Khmer Rouge survivor, in the lead role, whose Academy Award win represented a milestone for Asian representation in American cinema.

## Notable For
- First film to win an Academy Award for an actor of Cambodian descent (Haing S. Ngor)
- One of the few mainstream films to address the Cambodian genocide
- Featured actual Khmer Rouge survivors in supporting roles
- Shot on location in Thailand to recreate Cambodia
- Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism
- Ranked #21 on the British Film Institute's list of films that should be in the National Film Archive
- Preserved in the United States National Film Registry for cultural significance

## Body

### Production and Creative Team
The Killing Fields was directed by Roland Joffé, marking his feature film directorial debut. The screenplay was written by Bruce Robinson, based on Sydney Schanberg's New York Times Magazine article "The Death and Life of Dith Pran." The film was produced by David Puttnam and produced by The Ladd Company in association with Goldcrest Films and Warner Bros. Entertainment. Chris Menges served as cinematographer, earning an Academy Award for his work capturing the film's stark and haunting visual style.

### Cast and Performances
The film stars Sam Waterston as Sydney Schanberg, Haing S. Ngor as Dith Pran, John Malkovich as Alan "Al" Rockoff, and Julian Sands as Jon Swain. Haing S. Ngor's performance as Dith Pran was particularly notable as he was not a professional actor but a Cambodian doctor and Khmer Rouge survivor who had experienced similar traumas to those depicted in the film. His authentic portrayal earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, making him the first Asian actor to win an Oscar in this category.

### Historical Accuracy and Research
The film's narrative is based on Sydney Schanberg's firsthand experiences as a New York Times correspondent in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge takeover. Schanberg's 1980 article, which won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting, served as the primary source material. The filmmakers conducted extensive research and consulted with survivors to ensure historical accuracy in depicting the fall of Phnom Penh, the evacuation of the city, and the conditions in the labor camps. While some dramatic elements were added for narrative purposes, the core events and the portrayal of the Khmer Rouge's brutality are considered historically accurate.

### Filming Locations and Production Design
Due to the ongoing political situation in Cambodia, filming took place primarily in Thailand. Locations included Bangkok, Phuket, and Trat Province, which were used to recreate Phnom Penh and the Cambodian countryside. The production design team meticulously recreated the look and feel of 1970s Cambodia, including the French colonial architecture of Phnom Penh and the rural labor camps. The film's visual aesthetic, characterized by its use of natural lighting and handheld camera work, contributed to its documentary-like realism.

### Critical Reception and Legacy
Upon release, The Killing Fields received widespread critical acclaim for its powerful storytelling, performances, and cinematography. It holds a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 76/100. Critics praised the film's unflinching portrayal of the Cambodian genocide and the emotional depth of the central friendship between Schanberg and Pran. The film has since been recognized as a significant work in both historical filmmaking and the biographical drama genre, often cited in discussions about films that successfully blend entertainment with historical education.

### Cultural Impact and Historical Significance
The Killing Fields played a crucial role in bringing the story of the Cambodian genocide to international audiences. At the time of its release, many Western viewers were unaware of the scale and nature of the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. The film's success helped generate renewed interest in Cambodian history and contributed to ongoing discussions about genocide, humanitarian intervention, and the responsibilities of journalists in conflict zones. It has been used as an educational tool in universities and human rights organizations to teach about the Cambodian genocide and the broader implications of totalitarian regimes.

### Distribution and Box Office Performance
The film was distributed by Warner Bros. Entertainment and had a domestic box office gross of approximately $14,626,000. While not a blockbuster hit, it performed well for an adult-oriented historical drama and maintained strong box office performance through word-of-mouth and critical acclaim. The film's success helped establish Roland Joffé as a significant director and contributed to the prestige of the production companies involved.

### Technical Achievements
The Killing Fields was recognized with Academy Awards for Best Film Editing (Jim Clark) and Best Cinematography (Chris Menges). The editing effectively balanced the parallel narratives of Schanberg in New York and Pran in Cambodia, while the cinematography captured both the beauty of the Cambodian landscape and the horror of the genocide with equal power. The film's sound design and score by Mike Oldfield also contributed to its immersive and emotionally impactful experience.

### Preservation and Recognition
The film's cultural significance has been recognized through its inclusion in various film registries and lists. It was ranked #21 on the British Film Institute's list of films that should be in the National Film Archive. The United States Library of Congress selected The Killing Fields for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2021, recognizing it as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." This preservation ensures that future generations will have access to this important historical document.

### Related Works and Media Coverage
The film generated extensive media coverage and has been the subject of numerous articles, books, and documentaries about its production and historical context. Sydney Schanberg wrote additional pieces about the film's impact and his experiences. The film has been discussed in academic journals focusing on genocide studies, journalism ethics, and film history. It continues to be referenced in discussions about war journalism and the role of media in documenting human rights abuses.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film396406.html)
2. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087553/)
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5. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/pola-smierci)
6. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087553/fullcredits)
7. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
8. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1985)
9. Letterboxd
10. The Killing Fields. Rotten Tomatoes
11. Lexicon of international films
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13. Kinopoisk
14. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/killing-fields-the/)
15. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
16. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/59923)
17. mymovies.it
18. The Movie Database
19. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/3E6E-078F-11E8-A830-2B1D-H)
20. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/79350)
21. Kanopy
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