My brief flutter of studies of the Vietnam War at a GCSE level was enough to kindle a flame of interest in this brief portion of American conflict history. Roland Joffé presents and directs us through The Killing Fields, a recount of events from the eyes of two journalists right in the heart of Cambodian conflict. A script adaptation from Withnail and I director Bruce Robinson is a certainly strange name to hear attached to such a serious project, but he along with producer David Puttnam and an impressive cast of big-name actors pool together the terrifying story of two journalists looking to survive the fallout and immediate issues surrounding the Cambodian struggles.
In its later stages, The Killing Fields isn’t so much a focus on the atrocities of the Vietnam war, but that of the Pol Pot regime. It’s presented in unflinching detail, Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor star in two of their best performances to date. Sydney Schanberg (Waterson) and Dith Prang’s (Ngor) friendship with one another is depicted in such intense and great detail that it’s hard not to be immediately hooked by their chemistry. Waterson, in particular, brings a stellar performance to the table, his anger toward what he sees as unjust and worrying is highlighted by a tremendous devotion to the role, a clear passion is on display in the various scenes he shares with not only Ngor, but Spalding Gray, Craig T. Nelson and John Malkovich also.
A whole host of recognisable faces appear throughout The Killing Fields, their sporadic appearances from time to time make for some great world-building. You never quite know when or where someone will show up, and when they do it’s always a rather pleasant surprise to see them. Alan Rockoff (Malkovich) showing up in a scene completely disconnected to that of the previous one plays hellfire with the pacing, but the depth it provides is a certainly acceptable substitute. Joffé gives ample amount of time to each of these cast members, throwing them into meticulously horrifying scenes, capturing the terror in each of them as the adrenalin forces them from story to story.
The definitive experience for discussing the treatment of the Cambodian people during and after the Vietnam war, The Killing Fields provides a frank and direct approach to the subject. It gives us a glimpse into the barbarism and brutality of a war that was fought, primarily, to curb the domino effect of Communism. Although the build-up to that war is not inherently present throughout the movie, The Killing Fields is an unflinching real-life horror story, showcasing the desperate measures and dangerous situations that civilians and journalists found themselves in at all times. Alarmingly well rounded, a focused biopic that feels thoroughly devoted to detailing the lives of two journalists trapped in a warzone.
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