By Rama Gaind
Film: Balibo (Madman)
Cast: Anthony LaPaglia, Oscar Isaac, Damon Gameau, Gyton Grantley, Mark Leonard Winter
Director/co-screenwriter: Robert Connolly
Balibo is a powerful political thriller which tells the true story of crimes that were said to have been covered up for over 30 years.
Connolly has delivered a political movie with tough impact, but sensitively and with little sentimentality.
It tells the fateful story of six Australian journalists who were killed while filming in East Timor during the Indonesian invasion.
Told in flashbacks, we follow Roger East (Anthony LaPaglia) who is charmed by a charismatic José Ramos-Horta to run the press agency in East Timor. East follows the trail of five missing Australian journalists.
As East’s determination to uncover the truth grows, the threat of invasion intensifies and an unlikely friendship develops between the last foreign correspondent in East Timor and the man who will become president.
The mood is set with grainy flashbacks with the knowledge of their impending doom.
The film does not lose sight of its poignant impression, as Connolly take advantage of grainy footage, hand-held cameras and rumbling sounds to transport the viewer into their world.
There are many confronting scenes, including their deaths, but the acting is exceptional, especially from LaPaglia. Input is also noticed from Damon Gameau (as Greg Shackleton), Gyton Grantley (Gary Cunningham), Mark Winter (Tony Stewart), and Nathan Phillips (Malcolm Rennie)
Connolly (The Bank) and David Williamson’s screenplay develops the characters well from the book ‘Cover-Up’ by Jill Jolliffe.
It’s not easy to enjoy Balibo, knowing the long inactivity that surrounded the now confirmed deaths of six innocent journalists.
You will also feel enraged over government apathy and Indonesian ruthlessness.
Winner of four AFI awards, Balibo made major headlines at home and abroad and was recently controversially banned in Indonesia.
DVD special features
This DVD has great highlights including Greg Shackleton’s original report from East Timor, October 1975, an audio commentary with director Robert Connolly, Bahasa Indonesia subtitles, deleted scenes and a host of additional extras.
The six contextual documentaries: Creating the Balibo Five; Roger East and José Ramos Horta; Polyester Perms and Short-Shorts; Death of the Balibo Five; Doco vs Drama; History of East Timor and Balibo.
