In 1973, New York Times correspondent Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) arrives in Cambodia. He is assisted by local translator and journalist Dith Pran (Dr. Haing S. Ngor). Schanberg relies on Dith Pran for inside information, and as a cultural guide; the two men develop a close friendship. When Schanberg first arrived, he was there to cover a bombing-gone-wrong by the American military, the result of which has killed a number of civilians. However, after the United States pulled out of the country, he and Pran had to decide whether they wanted to stay in Cambodia. They both decide to remain in the country, though Schanberg makes the necessary arrangements to have Pran’s wife and children taken to America. Shortly thereafter, Schanberg, Pran, and several other journalists are arrested by the Khmer Rouge. Luckily, Phan, the only Cambodian arrested, is able to convince their captors that they are French journalists, and they are turned over to the French Embassy.
They are released just in time to witness the forced evacuation of the entire city of Phnom Penh, as several million people are marched at gunpoint out of their homes and into the countryside. Most did not survive. Meanwhile, Shanberg, and several others desperately attempt to acquire Pran a new identity as a foreign citizen, but ultimately fail.
From then on, director Roland Joffé shifts back and forth between Shanberg, now safely back in New York, and Pran, for whom life is a minute-by-minute struggle to survive. As Pran suffers unimaginable abuse in a Cambodian work camp, Shanberg dedicates his Pulitzer Prize for foreign reporting to him, and writes countless letters to anyone he can think of who might be able to help gain his friends freedom. Throughout this section, the connection, between Shanberg and Pran is palpable, even though they share no screen time.
Dr. Haing S. Ngor, who had never acted before, rightfully won an Oscar for his role. Watching him as Phan, becoming a blank slate, hiding his education is stunning. Especially since that apparent blank slate will later escape, in a journey that will force him to confront countless dead bodies; former prisoners just like him. Ngor’s only life provided plenty of fuel for his fiery performance. A survivor of Phnom Penh himself, Ngor was married with a child on the way, when the Khmer occupied Cambodia; Ngor’s wife went into labor and developed complications, eventually resulting in her death. She didn’t mention her husband was a doctor, as he would have been killed. Its little wonder the emotion in his performance is palpable. Due to the strong performances of Ngor and Sam Waterston (who was nominated for an Oscar), The Killing Fields is a truly unforgettable film.
Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Warner’s 1080p Blu-ray transfer is a solid one, given the material. There’s a nice film grain throughout, and flesh tones appear natural. The image isnt what you would call razor sharp, but it still looks good. The greens of the Cambodian (actually Philippine) jungles are well saturated. While the transfer won’t blow anyone away, it’s a definite upgrade from the previous DVD release.
The DTS HD Master Audio 2.0 track serves the film fairly well. There’s occasional panning from left to right, and dialogue is clear throughout. It’s a simple, but effective track.
English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles are available.
The extras have been ported over from Warner’s 2001 DVD.
- Commentary with Director Roland Joffé: Joffé discusses the origin of the project, the casting of the two leads and the extensive research he did. Joffé also breaks down the intricate logistics of several sequences and discusses the film’s themes in depth. This is a commentary well worth listening to.
- Trailer (SD, 2:29)
- DigiBook: The 36-page DigiBook contains numerous stills from the film, along with short background essays and biographies of the filmmakers and actors, as well as a list of awards.
