Balibo

Recreating true-life events, Balibo tells the story of five Australian-based journalists who bore witness to the atrocities wrought by Indonesian forces during the invasion of tiny, unprotected East Timor. Interspersing actual documentary footage from these newsmen into his feature, director Robert Connolly re-examines the case of the “Balibo Five,” which remained inconclusive for over thirty years.

October 1975: in the wake of the Vietnam War, the world turns a blind eye when Indonesia prepares to invade East Timor. As foreign media scatter, five idealistic young journalists decide they must film the event in order to raise international awareness, hoping to solicit aid for the East Timorese. However, shortly after arriving in Balibo to film the invasion, they are never heard from again. Four weeks later, Australian reporter Roger East (Anthony LaPaglia) travels to East Timor to solve the puzzle of what happened to the Balibo Five. Pursued by ruthless Indonesian forces seeking to silence him, East travels deeper into the heart of the country and discovers that the invasion, with its accompanying atrocities, is far more horrific than anyone had ever expected.

A tense and provocative thriller, Balibo tells the story of the incursion in three narrative threads, following the five journalists in 1975 and East's subsequent mission, and interspersing a present-day interview to provide truth and reconciliation. With the aid of exceptional cinematography and masterful editing, these plotlines are deftly interwoven, bringing the realities of this tragedy into the stark light of day.

Following on the heels of recent inquests, which sought to brand those responsible for the invasion as war criminals in violation of the Geneva Conventions, Balibo examines an event that was only recently brought under scrutiny. By shooting principal photography in East Timor and making use of indigenous, non-professional actors, this film offers an authentic glimpse into past events that is sure to provoke controversy and debate.

Written by Connolly and playwright David Williamson, Balibo is an incisive examination of a shattering political event and the lengths that brave, often unrecognized journalists will go to bring the truth to light.

Jane Schoettle