R | 2h 21min | Drama | 1984
Roland Joffé’s searing film only appears to dwell on a bloody civil war. In reality, it centers on a touching real-life story of friendship, forgiveness, sacrifice, and faithfulness to truth in the face of totalitarianism. Nominated for seven Oscars, it paints a moving portrait of simple freedoms that contemporary democracies sometimes take for granted.
The Cambodian civil war pits the ruthless communist Khmer Rouge guerrillas (backed by China and North Vietnam) against the South Vietnam-backed Kingdom of Cambodia (later the U.S.-backed Khmer Republic). At great risk to their lives, Cambodian photojournalist Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor) and American correspondent Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) jointly capture the unraveling chaos for global audiences….