和许多独自在曼哈顿打拼的女孩们一样,阿曼达(莫妮卡·波特 Monica Potter 饰)胸怀大志却囊中羞涩,为了节省房租,她不得不和四个惊为天人的超级模特合租了一间公寓。刚开始,阿曼达的合租生活进行的并不顺利,她仿佛是跌落到了白天鹅之中的丑小鸭,处处力不从心,但逐渐的,阿曼达发现,表面看起来高高在上的“天鹅”们并没有她想象的那样难以接近,正相反,从她们的身上,阿曼达学会了如何成为一个更好的女人。
邻居吉姆(小弗雷迪·普林兹 Freddie Prinze Jr. 饰)是阿曼达的梦中情人,他的一颦一笑都令阿曼达为之神魂颠倒。一次偶然中,阿曼达目睹了一场凶杀案,而凶手不是别人,正是她朝思暮想的吉姆,无论如何都不愿意相信吉姆是杀人犯的阿曼达决心和室友们联起手来,查出真相。
1972年,美军在越南溃败撤离柬埔寨之后,纽约时报驻柬埔寨的战地记者辛尼(萨姆·沃特森 Sam Waterston饰)仍留在当地继续采访。柬埔寨人潘迪(吴汉润 Haing S. Ngor饰)是辛尼的当地翻译兼助手。辛尼在潘迪的帮助下,多次化险为夷逃过鬼门关。两人在战火纷飞中结下了深厚的友谊。1975年,红色高棉占领金边。辛尼得以全身而退,然而潘迪却因为没有护照而被捕,开始了生不如死的地狱生活。在柬共的劳动改造中,潘迪目睹了红色高棉政权的残暴血腥,受到了非人的待遇。1978年,越共入侵柬埔寨,潘迪趁机逃亡到泰国边境,与一直在寻找他的老朋友辛尼重逢。
本片荣获1985年第57届奥斯卡金像奖最佳男配角、最佳摄影和最佳电影剪辑三项大奖。
At Christine's funeral, her foster son suddenly shows up, a grown-up man with whom the family has been out of contact for quite some time. He brought a letter, stating that Christine wants to be buried in Wentelen, to the bewilderment of her biological children, and even more so to that of her husband. In addition to that, all the relatives are surprised that the foster son of Christine apparently maintained a correspondence with Christine. Nevertheless, Christine's last wish is respected, and they decided to bury her in Wentelen, and wish to do so traditionally, meaning: walking behind the hearse. During a walk of several days, all the relatives (foster sisters, foster father, alleged friends and real ones, the foster son, lovers) have enough time to get to know each other better. Because in the end they have no other conclusion than that nobody really knew anyone. Old intrigues are dug up, the foster sisters finally learn why the foster brother just disappeared from the family, and they can begin to develop a real image of the mother. Once Christine's final resting place is reached and she is buried, all family ties, good and bad, are shaken around.