MovieChat Forums > Balibo (2009) Discussion > Outstanding

Outstanding

posted 15 years ago by xagger8
14 replies | jump to latest

Outstanding Australian film. Profoundly touching and ultimately very moving.
Direction -10
Screenwriting - 10
Performance - 10
Editing - 10
Cinematography - 10

This is yet another example of an Australian film that proves the immense power of a well
crafted story and the talent that bring it to life are on full display here.
This is one the world should recognise.

I recommend this film very highly (I thought it was so sad that the cinema i saw it in was nearly
empty and that was on it's opening release)

Please I urge you to support this film.
It's just remarkable and it really affected me

[–] justlooking7 15 years ago

ITA with you completely xagger8. It's a powerful, moving film and despite the near empty cinema you saw it in, has been doing extremely well on its release. We can only hope it continues to do as well overseas as it's a story that should be more widely known. Kudos to Connelly, Maynard and LaPaglia for bringing to story to a wider audience, especially in the case of the forgotten Roger East.

Best Australian film in a long time? You know, I might just think it is.

[–] TimMeade 15 years ago

Saw the film this afternoon at the Nova in Melbourne, in front of a sizeable audience I'm pleased to say. And I'll certainly be recommending this film to friends and acquaintances.

[–] bettestreep2004 15 years ago

Tim - I saw this at the Nova today - and it was a sizeable audience also.

I am rethinking my rating for this film - cos it is one of those films that linger in your mind for a long time afterwards.

My only quibble with the film was that I couldn't seem to connect with any of the characters. I wanted to FEEL their pain more. I wanted to be crying uncontrollably - like I did at the end of Killing Fields. I wanted to be more angry with the UN and politicians - like I was at the end of Constant Gardener.

Balibo is up there with these 2 high quality films technically - but I'm not sure why I wasn't as upset as I should have been.

Maybe - just maybe - it was because there was a woman in front of me who was giggling throughout the movie.

I sure didn't find this film funny - but she obviously did.

Rather sad to know someone could sit through such a tense, dramatic and powerfully disturbing film - and laugh???

The one thing I did walk away from was the belief that what I was just shown was the truth - and not the cover up that the Indonesian and Australian governments continue to vomit at us.

This is an important story - and should be shown to all schoolchildren as part of their Australian History curriculum.

[–] nbjeff 15 years ago

I sure didn't find this film funny - but she obviously did.

wtf?

The one thing I did walk away from was the belief that what I was just shown was the truth - and not the cover up that the Indonesian and Australian governments continue to vomit at us.

The original script delved a lot more into the private lives and backgrounds of the characters, but in the end, the director opted for more information, less backstory. I do regret that the film was not as heartwrenching as you had hoped. The Killing Fields is what I was hoping for too.

Haven't seen it yet though. I'm "Merkin" and this movie hasn't made its way over to my side of the pond yet.

You might enjoy this, if you haven't seen it already

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49NCKua7pz8

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns5ZnRTnyms&feature=channel

[–] em_fitzpatrick 15 years ago

Completely agree with the comment about it being part of the History curriculum - I just saw the film today and decided 15 minutes in that my Year 10 History class MUST see this. I'll be sending out permission notes on Monday morning.

Just on the comments about not feeling as connected to the characters as you could have - I agree that there wasn't that emotional bond built between the audience and the journalists, but I actually thought that was a good thing. There wasn't the usual tugging-at-heart-strings moments, which meant when you did feel the pain it was more authentic and less manipulated. I did actually start crying - not just tear rolling down the side of your face but really crying - when they showed the executions of the five.

Really well done (and in my opinion, not overdone) film.

[–] justlooking7 15 years ago

I know some people deal with horrifying moments with laughter. I mean can anyone sit through the stabbing of the last of the 5 and find that funny? No, surely not; I was squirming in my seat, but she must have been dealing with the confronting nature of the film in the best way she knew how. I'm not condoning her behaviour because it would irritate the hell out of me if I'd been sitting behind her.

I know some have commented that the story should have been more about the 5 and less on East, but as the film-makers have said, you have 5 guys and all their background stories to fill in and it would have made the film too long. I like em fitzpatrick's take about not having the connection with the characters which made the pain feel real and not contrived. I really felt for East, and LaPaglia's excellent portrayal of this forgotten man ranks up there in terms of acting excellence.

[–] nbjeff 15 years ago

I just saw the film today and decided 15 minutes in that my Year 10 History class MUST see this. I'll be sending out permission notes on Monday morning.

Thank God for teachers like you.

[–] grnfinger 14 years ago

I am a Canadian and saw this movie last night....I am totally speechless

[–] andelon 13 years ago

Outstanding Indeed.. I just finished watching it. I get all worked up about East Timor. I nearly cried at the ending too, La Paglia's a favourite actor, and his plea "I'm an Australian!!!" really affects me.
For shame, the Aussie government at the time. I also have a problem with Operation Kangaroo, training Indonesian soldiers on Aussie soil. (I'm a Kiwi, so it's not my place to say, but I lived in Brisbane for many years, and here's an interesting side story...)
Before Monty Python's Life of Brian was banned in the state of Queensland, Aus, the university public radio station held a benefit for East Timor, with free entry to war veterans. Apparently the place was packed with veterans who weren't that interested in the film, they just wanted to support the Timorese. They spoke of the 'fuzzy wuzzy angels' who came out of the forest and tended the injuries of the aussie soldiers fighting the Japanese. They were disgusted that the gov't had abandoned their friends and saviours. We protested for years against the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. It was a very happy day for me when they got their independence back.

Viva Xanana, Viva Timor Neste.

"There's a Confidentiality Issue there I'm afraid, Sir..."

[–] CQTiger 12 years ago

Just watched this on TV in Aust and was saddened and disgusted. The Indonesian govt has always been corrupt and barbaric but the Aust govt of the time were pathetic in their response. It certainly cost us millions sending troops and aid a decade later after thousands of innocent people were murdered. Great to see LaPaglia lend himself to the film at no doubt a lower fee than his Hollywood roles

[–] andelon 12 years ago

Journalist friends told me it was all about the Indonesian offshore oil deal with the big oil companies. The Aussie gov't at the time turned a blind eye.

I remember seeing Portugal's soccer team wearing black armbands in protest at World Cups.
Onya Portugal.

"There's a Confidentiality Issue there I'm afraid, Sir..."

[–] Williambrad2004 12 years ago

yes this film is a masterpiece. and really makes you feel emotional. a big tear jerker and also a reminder that the killers of the balibo five and roger east have not been brought to justice to answer for there crimes. time for our current prime minister of australia to do something about this for the familys of these brave men.

bird signs you want to plan a strategy based on bird signs.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

Great to see LaPaglia lend himself to the film at no doubt a lower fee than his Hollywood roles

Very much agree. LaPaglia himself has said he considers it his best role and I don't think he's overstating any thing. It's a bit hard finding out how the film fared overseas, but I sincerely hope it was some sort of commercial success and the producers didn't lose money on it.

[–] FranceGirl 11 years ago

Just watched this via Netflix streaming. I agree: Outstanding! And moving, and sad, and tragic. My admiration for Anthony LaPaglia continues to grow! A+ to all the actors & to the director. Thanks for telling this story. I had not been aware of it before. Unfortunately there are too many like it: Atrocities & genocides occurring while major global powers turn a blind eye. Journalists must be kept safe so they can continue to report these stories.