MovieChat Forums > Balibo (2009) Discussion > I am really pissed.. Is it still worth t...

I am really pissed.. Is it still worth to see this movie? [Spoiler]

posted 15 years ago by jonas_pulido_valente
6 replies | jump to latest

I was really hyped about Balibo, but I never got to see it. East Timor has many bonds to my country, Portugal, and I am vaguely familiar with the story of the Balibo 5, altough I don't know many details.

Today, a friend of mine told me that Roger East, Anthony LaPaglia's character dies. Is it a big turn-off to know that when seeing this movie, do you think it looses it's pace when we know that in advance? Because I hate to be spoiled in movies, and knowing those things kinda breaks the dramatic buildup and makes it all predictable. Thanks in advance.

I'm really pissed.

[–] simonrqr 15 years ago

No I don't think it ruins the movie at all. If you knew about the Balibo Five and Roger East you would know what happens in the end anyway!

It's like watching Downfall (Der Untergang) and knowing that Hitler dies at the end of it, or Oliver Stone's JFK and knowing JFK dies, or any other historical movie where you know the outcome.

Going into Balibo you know what happens to the Balibo Five and to Roger East but it didn't detract from the movie to me. It was still incredibly powerful and moving. LaPaglia's performance as East is the best performance I've ever seen from him. See this movie if you get the chance is what I say!

[–] justlooking7 15 years ago

ITA with simonrqr, what happened to the Balibo 5 and Roger East (always the forgotten journalist)happened 35 years ago and knowing what happenes does not detract from the experience of the film. Having East die was never meant to be a 'spoiler' in the terms we use for most films. And again I echo simonrqr, LaPaglia is brilliant and the film itself is moving, confronting and just awesome. I just wish it would get better distribution as it wasn't so lucky at TIFF (like so many, many other films that missed out) it seems. Just catch it when and where you can.

[–] jonas_pulido_valente 14 years ago

Thank you, the both of you.

I will definetly try to see it when it premiers in Portugal, I hope it will soon!

Cheers.

[–] andelon 13 years ago

Good for you! I still remember the Portuguese national football team all wearing black armbands (for many years) to protest against the occupation. Portugal made a lot of friends in Australia because of those gestures.
Recommended, and La Paglia is perfect in the role.

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

[–] hypnotoad8128 13 years ago

I don't think it would spoil it in the least, it's history, not a made up story and anyone with the slightest interest in the story would know anyway. This sort of reminds me when I went to K-Mart to buy Valkyrie and the young girl behind the counter got all upset when in discussion she found out that they failed in their attempt on Hitler. I said, "You know it's a true story don't you? and she actually said NO, she thought it was made up story. When I asked did they not teach WWII, she just looked blankly at me. This is our future everyone. GULP!

[–] nbjeff 13 years ago

This is not some plot-based political thriller. If that's all you think it will mean to you, skip it.

This is for people who understand that watching Balibo is an act of bearing witness, drawing us closer in spirit to the people of East Timor and to the Balibo SIX.

It's one of the most moving political films I've ever seen.

The empires of the future will be empires of the mind.