The Killing Fields shows us the tragic outcomes of war from a more personal, up close perspective while it creates a realistic atmosphere into what the horrors of war can cause from the losing side. This story pulls the audience in by creating a sense of urgency, panic even, for westerners as many of Sydney's coworkers flee from the havoc, but he and Pran venture into the chaos. Having Sydney and Pran stay despite being surrounded by cowards gives viewers a painful sense of curiosity. The longer the movie goes on the deeper we dive into the rabbit hole of what war does to not only a country as a whole, but the individuals who suffer through it; the deception, physical suffering, and mental torture. Once Sydney and Pran are forced to go separate ways, we are shown the contrast between the lush western life and the life of fearful, war-ridden people. The way Joffe shows this separation truly impacts an audience as it shows a world we do not truly know as Americans and causes us to shift perspective, to give us a reality check. 

After realizing what I had just watched was based on a true story and not just a shot in the dark, it really took me aback. This jolting reality definitely gives us a moment to reflect, not only as Americans, but to also take hold of these truthful horrors and the slim miracles which had happened in Cambodia. I will definitely say that as American people we should learn about this more openly, as the history books tell us, if we don't learn about it, history will repeat itself. We are far too separated from the truth of war and if we don't make it known we're bound to repeat this cycle of turning our heads to the tragic suffering of innocent people and dying children. This duality of the world is almost sickening in the sense that while the major suffering of people in Cambodia is going on, Americans are pushing it aside as if the horror which was going on wasn't really there, or at least it wasn't for the American people.