MovieChat Forums > The Killing Fields (1985) Discussion > 'Imagine' an irony?

'Imagine' an irony?

posted 15 years ago by Aticusfinch
20 replies | jump to latest

Most sure that was not the intention from the director or the writer, but hearing Lennon´s "Imagine" at the end of the movie, can be viewed as something pretty ironic, even sarcastic. Specially when you think about some lines of the song. Consider:

"Imagine... no religion... no possessions...no need for greed... all the people sharing all the world..."

Well, if you think about it, that was pretty much the kind of society that the Khmer Rouge were trying to create in Cambodia, the society from which Pran had just fled.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jameshubbell-1 15 years ago

I think including "Imagine" was INTENDED to point up the irony.

[–] baeksu 15 years ago

I doubt it was intended as irony. An anti-war film with an anti-war song at the end, but the anti-war song is really doing a 180 and mocking the message? So the director put the song in there as a kind of "Just kidding!" at the end?

Nah, I don't buy that.

But yes, it's interesting that there is some irony there.

[–] Grooblle 15 years ago

I thought about this too, and yes it is very ironic. But it was surely not intended as such..

-------------
I like goats.

[–] sfrsez 10 years ago

I agree with you. calling it ironic, gives the makers way too much credit. Brings me to my next point... big issues with using 'imagine'

minor issue..this and every other beatle's song was completely outdated by 84.

major..this film's strength was showing the complete insanity of the factions involved. 'imagine's message makes some sense to normal people, but to people in charge like Nixon or Pot who don't have a sunctioning brain cell, its just noise.

[–] ikinmoore 15 years ago

Yes it was very ironic...when I first saw the film I was torn to pieces with emotion yet it caught the story. One of the best films I have ever seen.

History always repeats itself and man-kind never learns....I think that is what the song was trying to say.

The best films are made in an intelligent format.

[–] Swoop187187 14 years ago

I'd say he was mocking western Marxists - the likes of; The SDS, Weather Underground and the snooty Marxists like Lennon..

I think he was trying to say: 'look at your nice life, but look at what your ideas bring when they're employed, they bring nothing but murder, pain, suffering and poverty.'

[–] Odilwerk 14 years ago

Lol. I've never thought of it like that OP. Very good point.

This now has to be the worst choice of song for a specific film moment in the history of cinema.

I'd be impressed if the director used the song for that purpose, but I highly doubt it, it was an extremely popular song at the time.

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

ouch.

Aloha, Mr. Hand.

[–] siddfinch 14 years ago

Many posters question the inclusion of Imagine at the end, for many reasons, and I respect their view.

When I first saw the movie I thought it was very touching and thought provoking, and can even say I liked the song better after the film.

I DO THINK the "communist" message of the lyrics was consciously considered when they determined to use the song for the end scene. it is not meant to send a specific message but to make you think about the all the ironies. I bet anything.

[–] mackbrockton 14 years ago

On the commentary track, Roland Jaffe does mention the irony, but doesn't really say anything that would suggest that that was his intent or if someone brought it to his attention after he finished the film. He just says that that's part of the "complexity of life." That fits with how people interpret the song Imagine...some get the deeper meaning, while many others just see it as an idealistic song about peace. In the movie, it works on both levels

[–] Sheldonshells 12 years ago

And what the hell make syou think the leaders of the Khmer Roughe were trying create the kind of society Lennon "Imagines" in the song? I mean who knows their actual intentions or what it was really all about.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Degree7 11 years ago

The KR were not trying to create that kind of society.

They were just sick people who wanted power over the populace, like George Orwells Oceania government.

Limit of the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: directly proportional to its awesomeness.