Years ago, backpacking in Cambodia I read a battered old copy of the Killing Fields (the book version of the film).
When I finished it I passed it on to a friend, eventually it went all around all our little group.
Later we all admitted to shedding tears while reading it. It is the single most moving novel I have ever read.
From then on in - every beer sunk under Cambodian skies was accompanied with a toast to the book’s hero Dith Pran.
Years later when my parents visited me in Vietnam on their way to Cambodia I made sure that they too had a copy.
I have just read of Dith Pran’s death aged 65 in New York. Considering his life story, the fact that he reached such an age is incredible in itself.
It’s not often I feel genuinely saddened at the death of someone I never met. But Dith and his strength and loyalty to his friend Sydney Schanberg really touched me. He inspired me and I am sure many thousands of others too.
Cheers Dith.
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March 31, 2008 at 3:20 pm
minxlj
Although I know the stories I’ve never read the book or watched the film, I knew it would be too hard for me. But, I’ll steel myself, grab a box of tissues, get a copy of the book and finally read it…
When I heard about his death I thought it was terribly sad - but like you say he lived a long life especially considering his past! I also thought, I wonder if the younger generations these days have any idea who he is, or his story? I hope stories like that won’t just be confined to a few history lessons in school.
March 31, 2008 at 3:22 pm
minxlj
I meant to add - what a wonderful, genuine smile he has in that photo. I would have loved to have met him; I can tell he was a great guy.
March 31, 2008 at 3:39 pm
ourmanwhere
Good luck with finding the book - I think it is out of print but there might be a few second hand versions knocking around.
I think the book of the film was derived from another book called something like The Death and Life of Dith Pran.
I am sure that this is the most comprehensive re-telling of his life but I admit that I haven’t read it. It was the Killing Fields book that moved me so much.
In Asia, every last streetkid will try and sell you a photocopied pirate version for pennies. But it’s altogether harder trying to find it here.
March 31, 2008 at 3:46 pm
minxlj
There’s a few various copies on eBay - Christopher Hudson, 1984? Is that the right one?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Killing-Fields-Christopher-Hudson-pb-bk-1984_W0QQitemZ300200527315
March 31, 2008 at 6:48 pm
ourmanwhere
Yup that is the right one. Good price too :o)
April 1, 2008 at 12:08 am
Will
Sad, but good to think he lived 10 years longer than Pol Pot. I have had the film for many years and the ending still leaves in tears everytime. I also have the Mike Oldfield original sountrack on vinyl, that’s best avoided though, it hasn’t aged well!
April 1, 2008 at 6:36 am
ourmanwhere
Will - you’re not wrong. I remember the soundtrack from seeing the film and its the weakest part of it. It’s jars with the tone of the film terribly.
April 1, 2008 at 7:29 am
Mosh
I finally saw the film in the hostel I stayed at in Phnomh Penh - they showed it a couple of times a week. Despite the… “period” costumes (very 70s!) it’s an *incredible* movie and should be on the “must see” list of any kid entering secondary school.
I did read about his passing and the Sky report also mentioned that the guy who played him in the film was killed in a robbery in 1996. Sad :(
April 1, 2008 at 8:03 am
ourmanwhere
Mosh, I read that too. I remember confusing myself and thinking that it was Dith Pran who had been killed.
Apparently the actor was also a survivor of the Killing Fields.
I too saw the film in a hostel in Phnomh Penn - down in backpackerville on the lake. I remember the mozzies almost reducing me to tears.
April 2, 2008 at 3:49 pm
minxlj
Bought that book, looking forward to reading it finally!
April 3, 2008 at 11:37 am
ourmanwhere
Congrats - you’ll have to let me know if you enjoy it. Have plenty tissues on hand.
April 10, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Graham
You may have missed this too, dunno. I stuck it on the Frontline Club blog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBHP–a1m4A
April 16, 2008 at 8:48 am
Bolina
I’m a cambodian, even i was born after the War, but surely i know very well who is Dith Pran, i guess Most of Cambodians who were born after war doesn’t know who was Dith Pran and They are not intereted about at all it is so sad.
As a Cambodian, Dith Pran is Truly Cambodia Hero.
I have found this forum by co-incident while searching for a book of the death and life of Dith Pran. I really want to read this book so much. But it is too expensive to get one. I dont know someone here who has it could share it to me as PDF file etc. Because i’m really interested in his story. Used to watch Killing Field many times but never read that book.
I want to share this link for the ones who have not yet watched this movie Killing Field.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFcFwXY0R4Q
Thanks.