BALIBO REVIEW

BALIBO
Director: Robert Connelly
Cast: Anthony LaPaglia, Oscar Isaac
Screenplay: Robert Connelly, David Williamson, Jill Jolliffe (book "Cover Up")
Running Time: 111 min
Rating: M15+
****1/5/*****

Balibo is one of the finest Australian films ever produced. Unfortunately, much like the events it portrays, the movie has not received the global attention it deserves. This can most likely be attributed to the fact that nobody wants to be reminded of their inadequacies; with the film depicting the harsh brutality of the world turning a blind eye to the suffering of an entire nation, it is sure to be a hard sell to the mainstream movie going public, which is a great pity indeed. The topic itself has also long been considered taboo, particularly because it exposes the shady underhanded dealings of the Australian and Indonesian Governments that would result in a cover up lasting for over thirty five years.

East Timor is in turmoil on the brink of invasion from Indonesia. During this tumultuous time, five Australian journalists vanish without a trace. A month later the young Jose Ramos-Horta travels to Australia to recruit veteran war correspondant Roger East (Anthony LaPaglia) back to Timor to help cover the events of the imminent invasion. Upon arrival East becomes determined to discover the fate of the Balibo five and in turn alters the course of his own destiny forever.

LaPaglia is the big name of the film and ultimately delivers a fine performance, endowing East with a certain weight in the eyes of the audience that only an actor of LaPaglia's stature could provide. The character arc of East feels a tad unrealised however, which can be more attributed to the fault of the writing rather than LaPaglia's performance. East's choices, motives and actions often appear rash and unpredictable with the audience not quite understanding how he got there. In a film that is required to cover a lot of ground, it appears that Easts character development is an unfortunate casuality in the quest to explore a bigger picture. LaPaglia might be the name draw but it is the lesser known supporting cast who really steal the show, delivering outstanding performances and endowing the film with emotional resonance. Oscar Isaac is a star of the future, delivering a subtle yet frighteningly charismatic protrayal of the future President of East Timor Jose Ramos-Horta. He instills the character with such a warmth yet cool conviction, that his presence is missed during the characters time off screen. Equally as enchanting are the Balibo 5. The actors manage to endear the journalists to the audience so much, that it only serves to make their subsequent fates infinitely more heartbreaking. The times we spend with them in the lead up to their fateful stay at Balibo are like breathes of fresh air into the film, rendering their death scenes extremely difficult to bare.

On the budget of an Independent film, writer/director Robert Connelly has delivered a masterpiece that runs rings around numerous films with ten times the budget, resources and star power. The script seamlessly weaves between the quest of East and the tale of the Balibo 5, with each narrative managing to be equally compelling in different ways. Despite the films main narrative concerning the lead up and subsequent consequences of the events at Balibo, the invasion of East Timor as a whole is never diminished or relegated to the background within the story. Throughout the film a deep sense of foreboding and tragedy permeates the atmosphere with the character of Ramos-Horta serving to remind both East and the audience of the bigger picture; namely that there are travesties afoot far beyond the slayings of five Australian journalists.

The pace is thrilling and the narrative never dull. Balibo signals hope that the Australian Film Industry is capable of delivering more than the bland, sub-par offerings of the past decade. Deeply moving and utterly unforgettable, Balibo is a must see. FOUR AND A HALF OUT OF FIVE