The Killing Fields (film)
The Killing Fields (
1984) is an award-winning dramatic
British film based on the experiences of the journalists
Dith Pran, who survived the
Khmer Rouge regime,
Sydney Schanberg, and
Jon Swain. The film, which won three
Academy Awards, was directed by
Roland Joffé and stars
Sam Waterston as Schanberg,
Haing S. Ngor as
Dith Pran,
Julian Sands as
Jon Swain, and
John Malkovich as
Al Rockoff. The adaptation for the screen was written by
Bruce Robinson for which he received
Oscar and
Golden Globe nominations as well as a
BAFTA award.
Ngor won the
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role;
cinematographer Chris Menges won an
Academy Award for Best Cinematography. The film also won for Best Editing. The soundtrack is by
Mike Oldfield.
In
1986, actor
Spalding Gray, who had a small role in the movie as the American consul, created
Swimming to Cambodia, an acclaimed monologue (later filmed by
Jonathan Demme) based upon his experiences making
The Killing Fields.
The film placed 100 on the BFI's list of the 100 Greatest British films of all time.
*
*
Film review by Tom Dirks
*
Mike Oldfield Discography (Tubular.net) - The Killing Fields
