Swimming to Cambodia (1987)

Synopsis: Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS) established his mastery of "filmed performance" with TALKING HEADS--STOP MAKING SENSE. Here he captures the urgency, terror, humor and... Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS) established his mastery of "filmed performance" with TALKING HEADS--STOP MAKING SENSE. Here he captures the urgency, terror, humor and brilliance of single performer-- Spalding Gray, who stays seated behind a table at New York's Soho Performing Garage in 1987 for an intense monologue. Gray uses his experiences in Thailand filming the 1984 Academy Award winning film THE KILLING FIELDS as a springboard for all sorts of hilarious, moving digressions, notably a concise and bone-chilling history of Cambodia, and the mass murders brought about by Pol-Pot in the 1970's. There's also Gray's quest for "the perfect moment," a spiritual pursuit that involves drugs, detailed descriptions of the Bangkok brothels, and the apprehension involved in trying to memorize lines for the film. Fellow performance artist Laurie Anderson composed the background music, which along with the ingenious lighting and ambient sound effects perfectly accents Gray's delivery. Demme has crafted a brilliant film of a brilliant performer, infusing the proceedings with a real magnetic urgency, making it hard to look away even for an instant. [More]

Starring: Spalding Gray

Starring: Spalding Gray

Director: Jonathan Demme

Director: Jonathan Demme
Screenwriter: Spalding Gray
Composer: Laurie Anderson

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