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Trailer

Swimming to Cambodia

1987Movie1 h 25 min

ComedyDocumentary
71
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Metacritic68–Rotten Tomatoes100%90%

An eccentric, cathartic documentary movie about a real life story and everyday modern life, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for family movie night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

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Not streaming in any country yet.

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Not for scares, adrenaline or romance.

Movies with

Story

Spalding Gray sits behind a desk throughout the entire film and recounts his exploits and chance encounters while playing a minor role in the film 'The Killing Fields'. At the same time, he gives a background to the events occurring in Cambodia at the time the film was set.

Feels like

  • One-Man Show Monologue
  • Autobiographical Storytelling
  • Behind-the-Scenes Hollywood
  • Witty & Charismatic Performance
  • Historical Reflection
  • Theatrical Minimalism
  • Meta-Cinematic Commentary
  • Intimate Narrative Voice

Cast

3 of 3

Crew

Directed by
Jonathan Demme
Written by
Spalding Gray
Produced by
Renée Shafransky
Music by
Laurie Anderson

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 13, 1987 · 1 h 25 min · Documentary, Comedy

Released
March 13, 1987
Runtime
1 h 25 min
Genres
Documentary, Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United States

Tropes

Do Not Taunt Cthulhu, Hell on Earth, Holiday in Cambodia +1

  • Do Not Taunt Cthulhu
  • Hell on Earth
  • Holiday in Cambodia
  • "Not Making This Up" Disclaimer

From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Is Swimming to Cambodia worth watching?"

Questions about Swimming to Cambodia

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Swimming to Cambodia worth watching?

71
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 71 (IMDb 7.6, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 68).

Is Swimming to Cambodia okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will Swimming to Cambodia make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly sharp wit (9 of 10) and absurd humor (6 of 10).

Is Swimming to Cambodia plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (10 of 10) and character depth (7 of 10) more than on its plot.