Review of The Killing Fields (1984) by Valeria C — 28 Sep 2011

Sydney Schanberg is a journalist in The New York Times, who was sent to Cambodia in 1972 as a correspondent of the war that was occurring there. When he arrives, he meets Dith Pran, a Cambodian photojournalist and refugee who survived the Cambodian Genocide. This man becomes Schaberg's guide and translator during the war. When trying to photograph the execution of two Khmer Rouge operatives, they are arrested and later learn that the press had reported a different version of the story. In 1975, people were being evacuated from the capital because of a possible invasion from the Khmer Rouge. Even though Pran's family is able to flee, he decided to stay and help Schanberg cover the story. After going through several situations, in which they get arrested again, Pran is turned over to the Khmer Rouge after they ask for every Cambodian citizen to be turned in. After months of searching for Pran, Schanberg begins to blame himself for Pran's situation. He wouldn't be trapped if it weren't for him. However, after several complications, Pran reaches a Red Cross camp in the border of Thailand. When he returns home to his family, he reunites with Schanberg who apologizes for everything. Pran forgives him and the movie ends.

This movie was extraordinary. The acting, camera movements and the realism in the film captured everything necessary for the audience to be caught in the moment. It is credible, touching and it is poetically convincing. It doesn't have a traditional Hollywood structure, but as a human story, it is very well made. It captures a vivid image of how people's lives were during that period.

It is essential for an Emerson College student to know about this story, not only for general knowledge, but also because, as communicators, we all need to be aware that media cannot always be trusted. We must learn from the things that we saw about the misunderstandings in the media, and work to try and avoid those issues.