Balibo (film)

Balibo
Theatrical film poster
Directed by	Robert Connolly
Screenplay by	Robert Connolly David Williamson
Based on	Cover-Up by Jill Jolliffe
Produced by	Anthony LaPaglia Dominic Purcell
Starring	Anthony LaPaglia Oscar Isaac Damon Gameau Gyton Grantley Nathan Phillips Mark Winter Thomas Wright Bea Viegas
Cinematography	Tristan Milani
Edited by	Nick Meyers
Music by	Lisa Gerrard & Marcello De Francisci
Distributed by	Transmission Films
Release dates	24 July 2009 (2009-07-24) (MIFF) 14 August 2009 (2009-08-14) (Australia)
Running time	111 minutes
Countries	Australia East Timor
Languages	English Tetum
Budget	AU$4,500,000

Balibo is a 2009 Australian war film that follows the story of the Balibo Five, a group of journalists who were captured and killed while reporting on activities just prior to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor of 1975. The film is loosely based on the 2001 book Cover-Up by Jill Jolliffe, an Australian journalist who met the men before they were killed.

The film follows dishevelled journalist Roger East, played by Anthony LaPaglia, who travels to East Timor in 1975 to investigate the deaths of the Balibo Five during the buildup to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor.^[1] Oscar Isaac plays the young José Ramos-Horta, who would later receive the Nobel Peace Prize and become the second President of East Timor,^[2] who joins East in the movie.

Filming began on 30 June 2008, in Dili, East Timor,^[3] and the film was released the following year. It was produced by Arenafilm in Australia with Robert Connolly as director, David Williamson as screenwriter, and Professor Clinton Fernandes as historical consultant.^[4][5] LaPaglia, also an Executive Producer, named East as "probably the best role I've ever had".^[6]