What is the summary and theme of the movie "The Killing Field"?

Answer 1

The 1984 movie, "The Killing Fields", tells the story of one man named DITH PRAN (portrayed by award-winning Cambodian actor Haing S. Ngor) determined to escape the government's army--the KHMER ROUGE--shortly after the war in Viet Nam ended. Out of a population of 7 million, there were between 1.7 and 2.3 million people killed (including children) for minor or political crimes, and sometimes just for their religious beliefs or their ethnic background. It would begin with a warning from the government, and if a person got 2 warnings, he/she would be sent for "re-education". This meant certain death. The so-called "crimes" could mean talking to a western missionary (especially from the USA), an international relief organization like the Red Cross, or with ANY foreigner or person from the outside world at all. The Khmer Rouge did not want their actions known about. The person would be given a chance to confess his or her crimes, and if there were none given, he/she was sent to places called TUOL SLENG and/or CHOEUNG EK for torture and execution. To save ammunition, things like hammers, axe handles, spades, or sharpened bamboo stakes (called PUNGI STAKES, in Viet Nam, these were often poisoned or dipped in human/animal feces that would thus infect the serious wound from their razor sharp edges). Those executed were buried in mass graves, and some of the convicted had to dig their own grave. At one of the sites is a monument that houses thousands of skulls.