The Killing Fields
(1984)
Starring: John Malkovich, Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor
To be honest, I'm not sure quite where to begin on describing in a short synopsis the impact that this film has had on me as a viewer.The Killing Fields is one of the most moving films i have ever been exposed to. I have seen many disturbing films: realistic, biographical, and fictional alike and The Killng Fields stands at the forefront of my mind above them all. Simply Thinking about this film and the lives of the real people that it depicts, brings tears to my eyes and causes my stomach to churn. This film can be compared only to the likes of Steven Spielberg's "Schindlers List." The most upsetting aspect of comparing the two, is that the plight of the Nazi Genocide is well known and recognised, but the unimaginable horrors suffered by the Cambodian people barely even register on the social injustice radar of the average American. The Killing Fields introduce, in a very personal and impactful manner, a historical event that is sadly ignored by most of modern day Society. The horrors that took place in Cambodia during the reign of Pol Pot are looked over by most public school education historical curriculum and in turn have ultimately gone unnoticed by my generation and many others. This ignorance is an abominable social injustie, and "The Killing Fields" seeks to bring a personal look at the mass genocide that took place in Cambodia in the 1ate 1970's. The Khmer Rouge sought to destroy all knowledge of the past and to brainwash young converts into only thinking of the future from "Year Zero" on. What had first caused me to watch this film was an article i had read about the Khmer Rouge genocide and the thing that blew my mind is that when this film was being made that Pol Pot was still running Cambodia when the film was being made in neighboring Thailand. The makers of the film sought to bring national attention to the atrocity that had taken place, almost completely unnoticed by the western world, and to help bring aid to the emotionally, spiritually, and physically ravaged country of Cambodia. I cannot stress enough the importance of viewing this incredible film, it will change your life and hopefully to inspire you to learn more and honor the death of thousands of Pol Pot's innocent victims.
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