Watch The Killing Fields

The Killing Fields is a 1984 British historical drama film directed by Roland Joffé and starring Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, and John Malkovich. The film tells the story of the Khmer Rouge communist regime's rise to power in Cambodia and the genocide that followed in the late 1970s. The film's protagonist is Sydney Schanberg, a New York Times journalist sent to Cambodia to cover the country's civil war between the government and the Khmer Rouge. He is accompanied by his translator Dith Pran, a Cambodian journalist who later becomes a victim of the brutal regime. As the war progresses, the Khmer Rouge forces gain the upper hand and eventually take over the capital city of Phnom Penh.

Schanberg and Pran witness the horrors of war and the Khmer Rouge's atrocities against their own people. When the Khmer Rouge take over, they force the evacuation of the city and begin to execute anyone who has ties to the previous government, educated people, and anyone who speaks a foreign language.

Schanberg manages to escape the country, but Pran is left behind and becomes one of the many people imprisoned in the infamous "killing fields" of Cambodia. He endures forced labor, starvation, and the constant threat of execution. Schanberg becomes consumed by guilt over leaving his friend behind and makes it his mission to locate him and save him from certain death.

The film is a powerful portrayal of the Khmer Rouge's brutal regime and the human toll of genocide. It is based on a true story and was filmed on location in Thailand and the Philippines. The film was well-received by critics and audiences and won three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Haing S. Ngor, who himself survived the Khmer Rouge's genocide.

Overall, The Killing Fields is a gripping and heartbreaking film that sheds light on one of the darkest moments in human history. It is a testament to the power of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors.

The Killing Fields is a 1984 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 21 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 76.