Balibo (film)

Plot

The film starts in the present day, when an Australian journalist interviews a woman named Juliana, who as a young girl witnessed Roger East's capture and execution by the Indonesian invasion force. We see events from Roger East's point of view, as he investigates the imminent Indonesian invasion of East Timor, and the fate of the Balibo Five, five Australian journalists who went missing prior to the Indonesian invasion.

Then the point of view changes to the Balibo Five's actions in the town, from their departure in Australia, to their arrival in East Timor and being embedded in a Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (abbreviated as FRETILIN in Portuguese) unit near the border.

Then the story switches between Roger East's attempted investigation upon the fate of the Five, and the Five's events in the area, and some of Juliana's story. Roger was with Jose Ramos-Horta along the way, evading Indonesian patrols and witnessing villages with massacred inhabitants.

The Balibo Five painted the Australian flag upon a building to ensure their safety, and declined requests of their FRETILIN bodyguards to join them in retreat. The Five then covers the invasion, until Indonesian soldiers chase and corner them. One of the cameramen tried to tell the soldiers to spare them, but was shot by the officer Yunus Yosfiah. Then, the soldiers breached the building, killing the other journalists.

Then Roger's point of view ends when the Indonesians invade Dili with paratroopers and ground troops. He was captured with East Timorese men and Juliana, as a child, watches as the men are executed by the Indonesians, women were segregated and raped, and Roger was executed by the Indonesian soldiers. The film ends with the inscription that the murderers of the Balibo Five and Roger East were not brought to justice. Then, scenes from Horta's rallies are shown, and finally, free East Timorese enjoying the beach.

Cast

• Anthony LaPaglia as Roger East
• Oscar Isaac as José Ramos-Horta
• Damon Gameau as Greg Shackleton
• Gyton Grantley as Gary Cunningham
• Nathan Phillips as Malcolm Rennie
• Mark Winter as Tony Stewart
• Thomas Wright as Brian Peters
• Michael Stone as Interviewer
• Bea Viegas as Juliana
• Anamaria Barreto as Younger Juliana

Production

Balibo was the first feature film to be made in East Timor. Shooting in Dili began on 31 July 2008, with United Nations police closing off roads, to allow the scenes to be filmed.{{cite web |archive-date=26 July 2009 }} 16mm-to-35mm visuals were shot at the actual locations where the events took place give a documentary-style texture.

Robert Connolly directed the film, David Williamson wrote the script and Clinton Fernandes served as historical consultant. The film was produced by Connolly's Arenafilms in Australia, with John Maynard and Rebecca Williamson serving as producers. Tristan Milani was responsible for the cinematography, and Nick Meyers edited the film. Australian musician and composer Lisa Gerrard composed the score.

Oscar Isaac plays the young José Ramos-Horta, who would later receive the Nobel Peace Prize and become the second President of East Timor.

The film's version of events was validated by an Australian coroner in 2007. After a fresh review of the evidence, the coroner ruled that the journalists were executed as they tried to surrender to Indonesian forces. The filmmakers hoped that Balibo would spur the Australian Government into action. Robert Connolly said that he did not set out to provoke Jakarta but wanted to examine a seminal moment in Indonesia's 24-year occupation of East Timor, when an estimated 183,000 people died: "I think it had to be graphic because otherwise you dangerously dilute what happened."

Release

Balibo received its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 24 July 2009 at Melbourne's Hamer Hall.

It screened at the Antipodean Film Festival in Saint Tropez, France, in October 2010.

Close to the date of the 50th anniversary of the killings, on 25 October 2025, the Adelaide Film Festival screened the film at the Mercury Cinema. Connolly was awarded the Don Dunstan Award at the festival for his "outstanding contribution to Australian screen culture". He joined Adelaide filmmaker Sophie Hyde in conversation at the festival.

Indonesian ban

The film was to have premiered in Indonesia at the 11th Jakarta International Film Festival in December 2009. However, in advance of a private screening, the film was banned by the Indonesian Film Censorship Agency. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the ban was to avoid a negative "global perception of Indonesia". The Indonesian military supported the ban, with a spokesman saying the film could harm Indonesia's relations with Timor Leste and Australia. He also repeated the official version of events, namely that the journalists were killed in a crossfire, and not by Indonesian troops.

Reception

The then President of East Timor, José Ramos-Horta, was in attendance at the world premiere, where there was an address alleging that the Balibo Five were tortured and killed by Indonesian forces. On changes over recent years in Indonesia Ramos-Horta said "It is better. Indonesian democracy today is one of the most inspiring in the south-east Asia region". Also in attendance were the families of the Balibo Five. Relatives of Tony Stewart held aloft a banner bearing his name which had been embroidered by East Timorese women. Maureen Tolfree, sister of Brian Peters, said she hoped many Australians would see the film and that she thought "...it will bring to the Australian public what's gone on," she said. Rotten Tomatoes gives a score of 100% based on 12 reviews, 80% of audiences like the film.

Varietys Richard Kuipers dubbed the film "a tense, character-driven thriller with political comment on the side, allowing viewers with little or no prior knowledge of the subject matter to engage instinctively with the Balibo Five," filmed where it happened and "packing a huge emotional punch". Kuipers continues: "LaPaglia is particularly good as the weary scribe who slowly rediscovers his old fire, and Isaac sparks off him impressively as the younger man whose ability to read people is as sharp as his political acumen."

Screen Internationals Frank Hatherley opined: "Shot on location with loving attention to period detail, the film's take on these long-buried events is convincing. Connolly's three strands are expertly woven together, coming to twin climaxes where terror and cruelty overwhelm everyone. These 'killing field' scenes are not for the squeamish."

The Monthlys Luke Davies wrote: "Jill Jollife's book ... argues that the Australian government has always known the exact circumstances of the newsmen's deaths. Connolly doesn't try to answer such questions, but rather lets them echo in the film." Davies commended Connolly and co-screenwriter David Williamson for having "crafted an engaging film in which we come to care about the destiny of an entire people as well as for individual characters", and that "the film's denouement is terrifying", making it a realistic and confronting experience.

Box office

Balibo grossed $1,330,863 at the box office in Australia.

Aftermath

The filmmakers hoped that Balibo would spur the Australian Government into action. Almost 18 months on, it had not responded to the coroner's findings – a reticence which may stem from its fear of upsetting diplomatic relations with Jakarta.

Fifty years after the Balibo Five were killed, their families are still fighting for justice, or at least an apology from the Australian Government for the cover-up.

Accolades

References

References

1. (28 September 2007). "LaPaglia leads Balibo five thriller cast". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
2. (29 April 2008). "Movie stars looking to bed with Darwin locals". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
3. Kuipers, Richard. (23 July 2009). "Balibo Movie Review". Variety.
4. (2 March 2007). "Robert Connolly producer / director / writer". Arena Film.
5. "Timor – the Balibo Five | School of Humanities and Social Sciences | UNSW Canberra".
6. Hatherley, Frank. (2009-07-24). "Balibo".
7. (3 July 2008). "BALIBO IN PRODUCTION". Urban Cinefile.
8. (24 July 2009). "Indonesia 'tortured' Balibo Five". BBC News.
9. (22 July 2009). "Balibo 'should prompt war crime charges'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
10. (29 September 2010). "Antipodean Film Festival blossoms in St Tropez with a strong indigenous presence".
11. (25 October 2025). "Balibo".
12. (25 October 2025). "Don Dunstan Award: Robert Connolly in Conversation".
13. (1 December 2009). "Australian Film 'Balibo' Banned by Indonesian Censors". [[Jakarta Globe]].
14. Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Putri Prameshwari. (2 December 2009). "'Balibo' Ban Wins Rave Reviews From Indonesian Military". [[Jakarta Globe]].
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16. (24 July 2009). "Stars, families share carpet at Balibo premiere". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
17. {{Rotten Tomatoes. balibo. Balibo
18. [http://www.themonthly.com.au/node/1846 Robert Connolly's 'Balibo'], Luke Davies, August 2009
19. "''Film Victoria – Australian Films at the Australian Box Office''".
20. (15 October 2025). "Fifty years since the Balibo Five murders, families are still seeking justice".
21. "Screen Awards". [[Australasian Performing Right Association]] (APRA).
22. "Winners – Screen Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).
23. "Nominations – Screen Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).