Balibo: DVD Review
Balibo
Rating: M
Released by Madman
The ever reliable Anthony LaPaglia stars as war journalist Roger
East in Balibo - he's called to investigate the disappearance of
five Australian journalists in the township of Balibo by Jose
Ramos-Horta (Oscar Isaac).
The quintet was looking into the invasion of East Timor by
Indonesian forces when they disappeared - and despite East's
initial reluctance to get involved, Ramos-Horta piques his
journalistic fancy.
East's been promised the job of running the News agency in East
Timor as the invasion got underway in 1975 - but he's more
concerned about what actually happened to the journalists and why
the Australian government - and the world - didn't seem to
care.
However, as East heads closer into dangerous territory he soon
realises the country's on tipping point and atrocities are being
committed which no-one's being told about - can he get to the truth
and survive?
Political thriller Balibo is, by turns heartbreaking, horrific and
dramatic - the central story of the missing five is book ended by a
journalist interviewing a girl who was in Balibo in 1975. He's
trying to establish exactly what went on so that those whose lives
were lost can get some form of justice. Throughout, the film is
interspersed with footage of the journalists and their journey
deeper into the heart of East Timor. By initially only using
snippets of the journalists' actions, director Robert Connolly very
cleverly pieces together a narrative framework which is rich in
content and throws you right into the middle of the story.
Extras: This 2 disc set has a wealth of extras for
those wanting to know more about the real life situation - a
respectable package for an important film
Rating: 7/10
