Depicting Real Picture of War to the Silver Screen

- Prajita Koirala, Roll No. 61

The Killing Fields is a 1984 masterpiece British film directed by Roland Joffé. The
evocative film chronicles the tales of friendship, loyalty, nationalism, journalism of
courage and above all, the real picture of war. The film incorporates storytelling of
pains, realities and angsts of the war felt by those who become unwilling witness
and participant in the war. The movie excels and scores ‘perfect A’ in all
categories- storytelling, direction, script writing, characterization, casting, music/
BGM, and its contents. The movie keeps the audiences hooked to the storyline due
to its unique approach of storytelling, scene selection and hard-hitting dialogues.
There is a minor reference to the infamous ‘Watergate Scandal’ involving
corruption charge against the then US President Richard M. Nixon. However,
much focus has been attributed to the rise of the communist Khmer Rouge in
Cambodia, as well as aftermath of spilling of US invasion against Vietnam.
The movie can be instantly listed amongst the influential war dramas of the 20 th
and 21st centuries such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Full
Metal Jacket, Letters from Iwo Jima, The Longest War and Das Boot.
The movie is the mix of varieties of impactful telltale stories about the bonding and
strong friendship between two men from different cultures, ideologies, and
traditions, quest for journalistic reportage about realities, tales of hopes,
unwavering human spirit and survival as well as humanitarian crises. Additionally,
the movie delves deeper into the pains and sufferings of any war and duties and
responsibilities of the reporters. More than a movie, ‘The Killing Fields’ must be
treated as historical documentary that portray the true picture of war , and not some
heroic makeover, as Hollywood is accustomed to.
With brilliant direction and screenplay, the movie has done extraordinary job of
keeping the characters, plot and actual events, altogether in a single thread. The
cast have portrayed their characters with utmost sincerity, brevity and dedication.
The audiences do not feel that the characters onscreen have limited professional
acting experience. Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich and the likes
have given justice to their characters and do not let the audiences down.
‘The Killing Fields’ follows the story of friendship between two New York Times
journalists Sydney Schanberg (played by Waterston) and Dith Pran (played by
Ngor); and their quest to bring the hidden tales of suppression, terrorism, violence
and inhumanity to the frontier. The movie brilliantly shows the rise of the Khmer
Rouge regime in Cambodia, its brutal mass genocide and darkest period in
Cambodia’s history to the forefront. Nepalese audiences can get a glimpse of the
Nepal’s decade-long Maoist insurgency and loss of 17, 000 + lives during the
insurgency.
The plot of the movie follows reporting assignment of Sydney Schanberg and Dith
Pran, their firsthand account of Neuk Luong bombing by US troopers and spillover
of the Vietnam War in around 1973. After the rise of the communist Khmer
Rouge, the lives of foreigners and civilian are at great stake. And, to avoid arrest
and death, Sydney hatches a plan to escape to America with Pran and his family.
But, Pran zeroes in on staying in Cambodia to help with the news reportage. When
the friends were detained by the Khmer Rouge, being native, Pran pleas with them
to spare their lives. When the Khmer Rouge forces Sydney and Al Rockoff
(photographer) to leave the kingdom, Pran is left to his own devices. Pran
disappears and completely masks off his identity, experiences and literacy level
and lives as resident of village-cum-concentration camp. Later, he manages to
escape from the camp towards Thai refugee camp and later reunite with his pal
Sydney.
Actors have given life to their characters and their performances leave audiences
awestruck and emote various emotional patterns. The events of the movie are sure
to leave quite a mark on mental psyche of the audiences and, does not bore one
down. The musical pieces and BGM used in various sequences have also
complimented the scenes perfectly, and usage of minimal dialogues have made
story incredible.
It is hard to realize that Ngor is a non-professional actor, who despite lack of his
acting experience, convinces the audiences with his brilliant portrayal and
emotional timings.
Unlike traditional Hollywood movies, this movie offers totally unique approach of
storytelling and characterization. The movie makes use of apparatus to perfectly
recreate scenario during the war in Cambodia and Vietnam, and mass exodus of
foreigners from Cambodia. The movie sets itself apart from the conventional
storytelling wherein a one-man army protagonist kills hundreds of foes and rescue
his buddy (as in Rambo franchise), and incorporates storytelling from the
perspective of two of its major characters. The movie tells about the pains,
sufferings and emotional trauma of the powerless Cambodian civilians, who have
to endure inhumane torture, killings and forces labor.
The movie perfectly balances the use of violence, calm dialogue, settings and
violence, to weave an unforgettable tale. The movie has incorporated various price
and picture of war on human civilization and humanity. The movie perfectly
balances the stories of hope and survival, mass genocide by the Khmer Rouge
government in Cambodia, slavery, famine, poor economic status an reign of terror.
The movie significantly tells about the Pol Pot’s inhumane slaughtering, detention
and imprisonment of civilians for dissenting against the Khmer Rouge government.
As per the media report, the Khmer Rouge slaughtered around 2 million civilians,
viz. 20 -30 % of the total population , for dissenting against the government.
Aside from wooing the audiences and critics alike, the movie offers a greatly
balanced storytelling , with plenty of inspiration and motivation ; even for the
media and journalism enthusiasts and students.