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Balibo

  • 2009
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Anthony LaPaglia and Oscar Isaac in Balibo (2009)
War correspondent Roger East and the young Jose Ramos-Horta travel to East Timor to investigate the murders of the Balibo Five in 1975.
Play trailer2:20
1 Video
12 Photos
Political ThrillerBiographyDramaHistoryMysteryThriller

War correspondent Roger East and the young Jose Ramos-Horta travel to East Timor to investigate the murders of the Balibo Five in 1975.War correspondent Roger East and the young Jose Ramos-Horta travel to East Timor to investigate the murders of the Balibo Five in 1975.War correspondent Roger East and the young Jose Ramos-Horta travel to East Timor to investigate the murders of the Balibo Five in 1975.

  • Director
    • Robert Connolly
  • Writers
    • David Williamson
    • Robert Connolly
    • Jill Jolliffe
  • Stars
    • Anthony LaPaglia
    • Oscar Isaac
    • Damon Gameau
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Connolly
    • Writers
      • David Williamson
      • Robert Connolly
      • Jill Jolliffe
    • Stars
      • Anthony LaPaglia
      • Oscar Isaac
      • Damon Gameau
    • 16User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 13 wins & 22 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Official Trailer

    Photos11

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    + 7
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    Top cast33

    Edit
    Anthony LaPaglia
    Anthony LaPaglia
    • Roger East
    Oscar Isaac
    Oscar Isaac
    • José Ramos-Horta
    Damon Gameau
    Damon Gameau
    • Greg Shackleton
    Gyton Grantley
    Gyton Grantley
    • Gary Cunningham
    Nathan Phillips
    Nathan Phillips
    • Malcolm Rennie
    Mark Leonard Winter
    Mark Leonard Winter
    • Tony Stewart
    Thomas M. Wright
    Thomas M. Wright
    • Brian Peters
    • (as Thomas Wright)
    Bea Viegas
    • Juliana
    Mario Boavida
    • Joao
    Anamaria Barreto
    • Young Juliana
    José da Costa
    • Sabika
    • (as Jose da Costa)
    Osme Gonsalves
    • Ximenes
    Simon Stone
    Simon Stone
    • Tony Maniaty
    Christine Martins
    • Juliana's Child
    Ana Rosa Mendoça
    • Juliana's Child
    Mazarela Martins
    • Juliana's Child
    Nazário Baptista
    • Juliana's Child
    Michael Stone
    • Interviewer
    • Director
      • Robert Connolly
    • Writers
      • David Williamson
      • Robert Connolly
      • Jill Jolliffe
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    7.03K
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    Featured reviews

    Vincentiu

    piece of fresco

    a film about East Timor. only at first sigh. in fact, a film about basic values of humanity.piece of a large and painful chronicle but, in same measure, a warning. its virtue - it can be more than picture of a case. it is an artistic form of testimony and the beauty and force of images are remarkable. but, in same measure, it is an honest manifesto about media role in political crisis, about sufferance, about the other. and this fact define it in same measure than nuances of performance - Anthony LaPaglia does an impressive role who represents mirror of a cruel reality. A film about essence of a world. not only a territory from Asia but remember of fight for liberty and respect in each part of world, of each period.
    6grantss

    OK, but not great

    OK, but not great. Powerful subject, handled with the right degree of respect and gravity. Yet, it is missing something to make it truly interesting. Seems to drag, particularly in the early and middle stages, and, in some ways, feel like a documentary.

    Robert Connolly's direction often leaves a lot to be desired: odd/bad camera angles, unsteady tracking shots.

    Decent performances though, especially by Anthony LaPaglia as Roger East and Oscar Isaac as Jose Ramos-Horta.

    Worth watching for educational purposes, and to show the depths to which humans will sink, but don't watch it hoping for a great drama.
    Kirpianuscus

    impressive

    about war. and pain, and sufferance and hope. about people. and about the ideals. a film who reminds more than presents. because it is a simple story. not different but other stories of hate and idealism. but , impressive for the remarkable performances and for the atmosphere. for its message . and for the science to give a deeper image about a tragedy near us . to redefine the image and purpose of media. and to present the right portrait of the need to help against risks and against fear.
    8videorama-759-859391

    A real hell of '75

    Here's a different kind of horror story, cause it's true. A beefed up La Paglia, plays real life journalist Roger East, encouraged by a young activist from Timor, to do a story of five Aussie journalists who have just disappeared. They were traveling to Balibo, where we see two stories in play, between La Paglia and Company, and the five journal's ride to death, where the last ten minutes of the movie, hits hard and will affect, especially people who were there, when the country fell under evil Indonesian rule for the next, twenty four years, from which the activist who fled from the country all that time, returned, where there were no hard feelings from other people. La Paglia is really good, but so is the rest of the cast, Gameau's performance I really liked, apart from him being such a likable actor. The period is captured really well, again, a warning of what a dangerous place East Timor was. There are some scenes that will disturb, one in particular brought back memories of the scene in Salvador, with all those stretched out bodies in that big round pit. The story is a young surviving woman, who was a little girl at the time, where the little actress gave a cute performance. A really very disciplined approach to story.
    6fmwongmd

    Little known

    A little known story about genocide in East Timor is well portrayed by Anthony LaPaglia and Oscar Isaac.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie's release in Jakarta International Film Festival in 2009 was canceled due to the sensitive nature of the topic for the Indonesian government.
    • Goofs
      Anthony La Paglia's tattoos, which are very visible at the bottom of his sleeves, are inconsistent with the era. Few people had tattoos then. Even fewer had such heavy tattoos.
    • Quotes

      Roger East: No... No... I'm Australian.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Behind the Scenes of 'Van Diemen's Land' - From 'Balibo' to 'Van Diemen's Land' (2009)

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Balibo?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 13, 2009 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Official site
      • Arena Film (Australia)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Balibo Conspiracy
    • Filming locations
      • Dili, East Timor
    • Production companies
      • Arenafilm
      • Balibo Film
      • Cinimod Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $922,612
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Anthony LaPaglia and Oscar Isaac in Balibo (2009)
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