MovieChat Forums > The Killing Fields (1985) Discussion > just a thought

just a thought

posted 16 years ago by kimkegaard
19 replies | jump to latest

Still many people do not know about Khmer Rouge. The atrocity that took place in Cambodia is equivalent to that of Nazi's. Yet, Hollywood is inundated with movies about Jewish people. I wish Hollywood shed light to other unfortunate events that took place on earth. Khmer Rouge is not the only atrocity that has taken place on earth besides the Holocaust. There have been numerous places. I cannot think of other major films besides The Killing Fields that dealt with non-Jewish theme. I hope more well-made major movies come out that deals with other massacres in the history

Personally, I would like to see a major film made about the Rape of Nanjing which was the biggest massacre in history.

[–] Daisy_Max 16 years ago

I agree completely. I recently visited Cambodia, and while I had vaguely heard of Pol Pot, I wasn't aware of the true horror of what had actually gone on in this country. My generation (those born in the late seventies) know all about WWII, but we are unversed in more recent wars. This is how history repeats itself.

[–] ikinmoore 16 years ago

I totally agree with you ! Whilist the Holocaust was an evil act by the Germans, humans repeat the mistakes and when they do, Hollywood shy away from it. The Killing fields, thankfully, was a british film. If Hollywood tampered with it then it might twist the main plot of the film.

Thinking about what you had said, the Americans went out and massaced the Red Indians. I have yet to come across a film to delve into this subject ! The nearest film that went into this subject was Dances with wolfs but this was rather tame compered with films about the Holocaust!

The best films are made in an intelligent format.

[–] Unwanted_Birdtamer 16 years ago

Films that deal with them are out there. They might not be huge releases or might be made for TV, but they are there.
Just a few off the top of my head (and these might not all be Hollywood):

American Indian:
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Into the West (the last episode)
Soldier Blue

Africa:
Hotel Rwanda
Sometimes in April
Beyond the Gates (Shooting Dogs)
Last King of Scotland
Shake Hands with the Devil

Central and South America:
Salvador
In the Time of Butterflies
Romero
Missing (82)
Imagining Argentina
One Man's War

Beyond Rangoon

Bosnia-Serbia:
Harrison's Flowers
Welcome to Sarajevo

and a few on Nanking:
Children of Hung Shi
Nanking
John Rabe

Come, we must press against the tide of naughtiness. Mind your step.

[–] magnifique_girl 14 years ago

As someone with Native American roots, I wish they'd touch base on that subject more.

[–] ruinawish 16 years ago

The Holocaust took place in World War 2. That I assume is the biggest reason why Hollywood explores it the most. The world was gripped during that time, and so the Holocaust rings a chord with people throughout the world.

And plus, Hollywood is about business, it isn't mainly a channel to share stories of tragedy (of course, it has the power to do so).

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Instant fail words: overrated, major flaw, plot hole

[–] craigarawlinson 16 years ago

The Holocaust took place in World War 2.

So did the Rape of Nanking.I don't see Hollywood tackle that one too often.

[–] ruinawish 16 years ago

"The start of [World War 2] is generally held to be in September 1st 1939 with the German invasion of Poland and subsequent declarations of war on Germany..."

"The Nanking Massacre... refers to a six-week period following the capture of Nanking... on December 9, 1937."

Europe was the central, at least initial, point of the war.

You also disregarded the second part of my post, regarding Hollywood as a business. Put very bluntly, the Holocaust would appeal to Western audiences. Stories from Asia are less likely to do so.

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Instant fail words: overrated, major flaw, plot hole

[–] craigarawlinson 16 years ago

I forgot to mention Unit 731. Nice copy and paste job from Wiki.

[–] ruinawish 16 years ago

What about Unit 731?

Regarding wikipedia, why do the hard work when someone's already done it for me? Unless the information is incorrect, then I don't see a problem.

And you've continued to disregard my 'Hollywood as a business' theory.

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Instant fail words: overrated, major flaw, plot hole

[–] Mars_atax 16 years ago

I think a part of it is that American troops liberated some of the death camps, and it was shown in American news reels, so Americans are more familiar with the Holocaust. Also, a lot of Holocaust survivors went to America after the war.

I also think there is some racism involved, in the sense that Americans found it shocking that white people like the Germans could commit such atrocities, but with the Japanese at Nanjing, or the Khmer Rouge, well, that kind of behavior is to be expected among THOSE people.

[–] MarieGabrielle 14 years ago

That kind of racist thought is how the U.S. starts its wars..."the other" is evil........ After generations its sad that blood for oil worked..

I had relatives in Korea and WW2....they are not happy or proud about what was done.It will take time. Hollywood has had some good screenwriters. Those who go over there to see the real damage and how people are actually affected get the real stories. The people who fought are not all like John Wayne. They have seen the real thing and seldom like to talk about it.

[–] Rayek_ 14 years ago

Even though this film is a reproduction of the massacre, it looks awefully and frighteningly real. However, this movie is a wake up call to a dark chapter in humanity and is reminscent of Hitler's Holocaust. The Killing Fields reminds us what atrocities human biengs are capable of but also the resilience and strength of the human spirit.

"Youth is life's paradise; joy is the eternal youth of the spirit."

[–] A_Fistful_of_Pennies 14 years ago

I'd like to see a movie about Japanese internment camps in the USA during WW2 (Farewell to Manzanar?), a movie about the Holomodor, and more movies about the attempted genocide against native americans in the united states.

[–] dileas 13 years ago

Question: if there was an "attempted genocide" against the "native americans", who was it organized by, and what stopped it from succeeding?

[–] nickm2 13 years ago

and are they talking about the 'Native Americans' in North America, Mexico, Central America or South America? They gotta be more specific....

[–] FilmLover1989 13 years ago

Something that very rarely gets mentioned is the fact that the North American Indians basically committed genocide against the people that were there before them. The people that became the Aztecs, the Incas and the Mayans were driven South when the people that became the North American Indians arrived on the continent.

It should be remembered that "Native" is rarely, if ever, an accurate term for a race of people.

[–] nickm2 13 years ago

And of course...we KNOW how the Aztecs treated their 'conquered subjects'....open heart surgery pioneers anyone?

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Mars_atax 12 years ago

"A major film about Nanking would be interesting."

See "John Rabe".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124377/?ref_=sr_1