Gray's performance is accompanied by only a minimalistic amount of sound and lighting effects. Besides the use of some lighting changes and thunder, helicopter noises, a few dramatic camera angles, what you get while watching Gray go through his one-man show is very similar to how you would have seen one of his readings performed in person. Of course, the added effects do add to the overall mood of the film, and those additions plus the few clips from The Killing Fields spliced into the performance are the work of Director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs).
Gray's stories talk about his life around the time of getting the role on the film and even go into his time with the cast and crew after his particular scenes were filmed, but I found his discussion of the real-world events in Cambodia to have the most impact. His discussion of the events leading to the takeover of Cambodia by Pol Pot in 1975 and the U.S. military force leaving the country do really sell the message Gray is trying to convey. Mind you, Swimming to Cambodia originally came out at the height of the Cold War and such topics were still at the top of most people's minds. That being said, more than a few parallels can be drawn between the decisions the United States made then and those made in recent years.
The DVD's special features are as minimalistic as the performance itself and contain only an interview with Demme as he talks about working with Gray and the decisions he made while filming the performance. Demme says that his primary goal was to give the film's viewers the feeling of being at one of Gray's performances and giving them the "best seat in the house." From what I can tell, he succeeded and after having seen many DVDs of one-man-shows, stand-up comics or live performances, Swimming to Cambodia doesn't just record the event, but the slight effects coupled with Gray's performance can really pull you in and keep you captivated.
All that being said,Swimming to Cambodia isn't something that everyone will enjoy. Those interested in the events around 1975 Cambodia or the movie The Killing Fields will find Gray's accounts to be interesting, but I would imagine this DVD will appeal primarily to those who remember this time in American history or have already seen the movie in one of its previous releases.
