Swimming to Cambodia
| Filed under laurie_anderson, spalding_grey, film, classic
Swimming to Cambodia is ostensibly a film about Spalding Grey’s experience in seeking and receiving an acting role within The Killing Fields. It is a deeply personal 360 degree observation roller-coaster. Ranging from comparisons of his WASP Boston background to the ferocity of inner city NYC life, to political and historical reviews of the US’s actions in Vietnam and Cambodia and the rise of the Khmer Rouge. About balancing his own goal of having a perfect moment, “best had alone”, against his relationship obligations with his partner Rene.
The film is directed by Jonathon Demme, who also directed The Killing Fields. It captures one of the monologue performances by Spalding Grey, using three cameras. Music is by Laurie Anderson.
I have watched this film many many times. I am still amazzed by the power of the monologue and how time after time my attention is completely captured.
“Except for the fact that the banana sticks to wall when it hits. Everything else is true.”
Unbelievably the film is currently unavailable. Second-hand copies of the DVD can be seen on Amazon, ranging between $200 – $1000. The book has been republished 
Steven Soderbergh is set to release ‘And Everything Is Going Fine’ a documentary on Spalding Grey in 2010.
A clip from Swimming to Cambodia