A STUDY GUIDE by Robert Lewis and Katy Marriner
http://www.metromagazine.com.au
http://www.theeducationshop.com.au CURRICULUM APPLICABILITY
Balibo could be a useful resource for senior students in Politics and Interna- tional Studies, raising as it does foreign Overview policy issues – was Australia justified in allowing Indonesia to invade, or should Australia have supported East Timorese independence, and alienated our major alibo (Robert Connolly, 2009) is Cunningham and Tony Stewart, and neighbour while possibly also having an unstable and radical state on our a powerful fictionalised version Channel Nine’s Brian Peters and Mal- doorstep. Bof the true story of the murder colm Rennie. All five had last been seen of five Australian-based journalists in filming news reports in the small town It also raises historical issues about our Balibo, East Timor, in 1975 during the of Balibo. relationship with and obligations to the invasion by Indonesia, and the death East Timorese, many of whom were cre- ados (helpers and guides) of Australian of a sixth journalist, Roger East, who East does not accept the official story troops fighting the Japanese during the discovered the truth about the killings. that the men were killed in crossfire. As war, and who suffered and even died to Balibo is 111 minutes and is rated M. his determination to uncover the truth protect Australians. intensifies, he and Horta undertake It raises issues that can be explored The story is introduced through the the perilous journey through the rough as part of Civics and Citizenship – the experience of the character Juliana Da country from Dili to Balibo, terrain now obligation of the state to be honest with Costa. She is at the modern-day Timor- occupied by day by Indonesian forces. its members, and the role of the media Leste capital, Dili, to give evidence to in reporting the truth. the Commission For Truth and Recon- Inter-cut with their journey is the story Balibo could be used in middle and ciliation. Her testimony takes us back to of how the journalists, four weeks ear- senior English classes to teach film as 1975, when she was nine years old and lier, made their way to Balibo deter- text and to study the context ‘Encounter- a witness to the Indonesian invasion of mined to film the imminent Indonesian ing Conflict’. what was then East Timor. The revela- invasion. Most forceful of the group is Finally, the film may be appropriate to tions of her testimony frame Balibo Greg Shackleton who is keen to fulfil study in Media Studies, with the film as Juliana describes the day of the his duties as a journalist in a wartime seeking to be taken as virtually a docu- invasion, the massacre that unfolded situation and, from a compassionate mentary account of the events, though on the Dili Wharf, and the story of perspective, to tell the East Timorese presented in a fictional way. This raises ethical decisions that must be made journalist Roger East, whose death she point of view. when making a film that involves and witnesses. affects real people still. On the morning of 16 October all five In October 1975, the former Portu- men are brutally executed in cold guese colony of East Timor is in a blood by the invading Indonesian safely in the air after approving the position of political instability after troops, after clearly identifying them- invasion in secret meetings in Jakarta, its abandonment by the Portuguese selves as Australian journalists. Their and with an assurance of Australian Government. The pro-independence bodies are then burnt. non-intervention by Australian Prime Fretilin and pro-Indonesian integration Minister Gough Whitlam, Indonesian UDT are struggling for power. Indone- Without any official Australian Govern- paratroopers and commandos attack sia decides to impose its control on ment protest, the Indonesian army Dili and immediately capture East who the newly-declared nation. continues to secure the border area is reporting the invasion. and advance on Dili. The five journalists were killed while Defiant to the end, East is killed on the reporting the Indonesian invasion to After uncovering the awful truth, East Dili wharf by an Indonesian execu- seize control. They were reported to be returns to Dili with a renewed determi- tion squad, together with hundreds killed when caught in the cross-fire of nation to tell the story of the country of East Timorese. The young Juliana the battle to take the town of Balibo, he has come to care about. On his witnesses the tragic massacre of her near the Indonesian-East Timor border. return, he is told that Horta has been people, and the murder of Roger East, Four weeks later, veteran foreign cor- chosen by his colleagues in the East her friend. respondent Roger East is approached Timorese Government to leave East by 25-year-old José Ramos-Horta who Timor and represent the country in exile After these tragic events, José Ramos- SCREEN EDUCATION attempts to lure him to East Timor to at the United Nations. Horta is unable Horta went on to represent his country run the East Timor News Agency. Roger to convince Roger East to join him in exile for twenty-four years, receiving East agrees to join Horta in East Timor, on a flight to safety in advance of the the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, and re- but only if he is first given complete impending invasion, leaving East as the turning to an independent East Timor access to the nation to find out the fate only remaining foreign correspondent in 1999. He is currently the elected of the ‘Balibo Five’ journalists – Chan- in East Timor. With US President Ford President of the Democratic Republic nel Seven’s Greg Shackleton, Gary and Foreign Secretary Henry Kissinger of Timor-Leste. 2 BEFORE WATCHING THE FILM
Understanding the background to the events
Here is a map of Timor-Leste and a brief chronology of the history of East Timor, and Australia’s connections with it.
These will help you understand the historical background to the events in the film. ous to do so. Up to 60,000 East Timor- of pacification followed over the next ese were killed by the Japanese. two decades, during which an esti- Locate Dili, Balibo and Maliana on the mated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals map. These locations are central to 1949 lost their lives. the story. After the war, the Dutch were forced out of West Timor, which in 1949 be- 1980s ~ came part of Indonesia. Indonesia built roads, hospitals and schools, and imposed Bahasa Indone- 13 000 years ago 1974 sia as the national language (replacing The first settlements in Timor Portugal decided to abandon East Portuguese), but many East Timorese Timor. This led to a civil war between still resisted and wanted independ- 1500s–1600s rival local parties – the left-wing Freti- ence. Europeans came and established lin, and the pro-Indonesian Timorese Many East Timorese joined Fretilin (the colonies. The Portuguese and the Democratic Union (UDT) – over who army of Felintil), and waged guerrilla Dutch were the main colonial powers. was to control the newly declared war fought from the jungles against They established trade (mostly sandal- independent nation. The UDT asked the occupying Indonesian troops. wood and coffee), took slaves, fought Indonesia for help. over territory, and introduced Euro- 1991 pean building, customs and religions. 1975 A massacre of East Timorese by Portugal claimed East Timor in 1520, In September, Indonesian troops be- Indonesian soldiers during a pro- and the Dutch claimed West Timor in gan infiltrating across the border. Five independence march in Dili in 1991 the 1640s. journalists (two Australians, two British helped focus world attention on the and one New Zealander) reported on area. Shortly after the massacre 1859 the infiltration and were murdered by Australia signed the Timor Gap Treaty The island was divided into two, with the Indonesians at Balibo. The Austral- with Indonesia, guaranteeing that the a 1916 adjustment so that Portuguese ian government did not intervene. countries would develop and share the had the east half plus an enclave, Oe- Indonesia feared having a communist- rich oil and gas resources in the Timor cassi, while the Dutch had the rest. dominated nation threatening its own Sea between Timor and Australia. Portugal generally neglected the security and stability, and invaded in colony of East Timor in the nineteenth December 1975 to impose order and 1993 and twentieth centuries. control. The Australian government The United Nations Human Rights accepted the invasion. Commission made the first of two World War Two reports criticising Indonesian abuses
Timor was invaded by the Japanese. 1976 of human rights in East Timor. SCREEN EDUCATION Australian troops tried to defend the is- Indonesian President Soeharto land and fought the Japanese for about proclaimed East Timor as the twenty- 1996 twelve months, but were captured or seventh Province of Indonesia. The The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to forced to withdraw. The Australians Australian government was one of the Jose Ramos-Horta and Bishop Carlos were supported by many East Timorese very few to accept the legitimacy of Belli for their efforts to gain freedom people, though it became very danger- this claim. An unsuccessful campaign and independence for East Timor. 3 1998–1999 2002 parliamentary elections in April and President Soeharto (President since East Timor becomes the new nation of June 2007 in a largely peaceful atmos- 1966) was replaced by President Timor-Leste. phere. In February 2008, a rebel group Habibie. In 1999, the Indonesian gov- staged an unsuccessful attack against ernment announced that there would 2006-2008 the president and prime minister. The be a referendum on independence. In late April 2006, internal tensions ringleader was killed in the attack and Despite intimidation by supporters of threatened the new nation’s security the majority of the rebels surrendered integration with Indonesia, backed by when a military strike led to vio- to the government in April 2008. Indonesian troops and police, there lence and a near breakdown of law was a large majority vote for independ- and order in Dili. At the request of ~ ence. Between the referendum and the the Government of Timor-Leste, an arrival of a multinational peacekeeping Australian-led International Stabiliza- • Construct a timeline that docu- force in late September 1999, anti- tion Force (ISF) deployed to Timor- ments Australia’s ties to East independence Timorese militias – or- Leste in late May. In August, the UN Timor. Begin your timeline with ganised and supported by the Indone- Security Council established the UN reference to events that occurred sian military – commenced a large- Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste during World War Two and end scale, scorched-earth campaign of (UNMIT), which included an authorized with reference to events up to retribution. The militias killed approxi- police presence of over 1,600 per- today. Draw on the information mately 1,400 Timorese and forcibly sonnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored that follows, as well as print and pushed 300,000 people into western stability, allowing the Government of electronic texts. Timor as refugees. The majority of Timor-Leste to hold presidential and the country’s infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100 per cent of the country’s electrical grid were destroyed. On 12 September 1999 a predomi- nantly Australian-staffed Interna- tional Force for East Timor (INTERFET) landed to provide security against the militias and the Indonesian troops.
2000 In February, INTERFET handed over much of its role to a United Nations force. SCREEN EDUCATION 2001 The Timor-Leste Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR — the Portuguese acronym) was set up in 2001 and functioned from 2002 until its dissolution in De- cember 2005. 4 Australia and World War Two ties to East Timor
In December 1941, Japan made a spec- called a creado. They carried our packs wrecked the nearest native girl, ripped tacularly successful entry to World War so we were free with our guns, and with- her straight up the stomach and disem- Two by invading Malaya, the Indonesian out them we just couldn’t have fought bowelled her. She was a bonny little girl archipelago and the south Pacific. like we did. about seven years of age. B The natives would spot when the Japs F They were so good, the creados, they Australia had a small force, known as were making a move and relay the risked their lives all the time for us, it Sparrow Force, to defend the island of message to us so we could set up am- shamed you really. Timor. The Japanese invaded in February. bushes. Even at the end when it was G Like all our people. I liked the Australian tough we were dependent on them to soldiers. They were kind, we all thought The enemy controlled the air and the sea, keep one jump ahead of the Japs. It that about them. They had sympathy and despite a spirited campaign, most of wasn’t just the creados, there were lots for Timorese people. They shared what the Australians were forced to surrender. who helped us. they had with us, showed our people Once we were all asleep and this bloke love and attention and we loved them in Some, however, were not captured and came and said, ‘Japanese!’ … We pack return. (Creado Paulo Quintao) were able to fight on. They relied heavily on up quick and sneak up the hill. … Then H There were many young boys the Japa- support from the Timorese, and a strong we see these Japs bring this bloke to nese told to be spies, but they would relationship seems to have developed where we’d been camped. We heard the see Australians all the time and they between the two groups. Usually a young shots and they killed him because he’d wouldn’t say they did. The Japanese man, called a creado, would be chosen to warned us. The hill was too high up to would just grab any Timorese and make help a particular Australian soldier. These do anything but we felt awful about him them carry the bodies of their soldiers creados faced certain death if captured by getting it. He was a beaut fella, really the Australians had killed and near Dili the Japanese. bright. airport they sang their national song and C By November things were looking burnt the bodies so there was an awful The indigenous people of East Timor were gloomy. It was very hard for us, and for smell over the whole town. (Virginia much more supportive of the Australians the poor natives. Early in December we Ribeiro, East Timorese) than those of West Timor, as a result of the got orders to move to the coast. It was I I don’t know of any love relationships, different ways the Dutch and Portuguese a great feeling to be going home but but we were only there five months and had treated them. it was a sad parting from the Timor- moving around a lot. Timorese certainly ese boys who’d done so much for us. found Australians more human; we Fighting guerrilla warfare, and dependent Quite a few of us had tears in our eyes. didn’t need the sort of obeisance some on local people’s support, the Australian I’d have loved to have taken my little Portuguese and Japanese did. We didn’t troops harassed the large Japanese force fella back with me. He cried when the act superior. But maybe a lot of the for nearly a year, until withdrawn. A small time came to leave. I gave him a note relationships between Australian soldiers band of commandos stayed active for the [praising him], what a good lad he was, and Timorese were seen in a more remainder of the war. gave him a few odds and ends. What sentimental light afterwards. At the time happened to him Lord knows. we had to use the Timorese and we did. Here are some accounts by Australian D Keith Hayes was shot in the neck and a When they misbehaved, we killed them, soldiers and East Timorese of their experi- Jap bayoneted him in the neck as well and when we wanted a girl we bought ences during the war. Taken from Michelle as took his watch. Keith was still alive one. Turner, Telling East Timor, Personal and when the Japs went he got up and J There was a saying in that war, that for Testimonies 1942–1992, University of New staggered down the road where he met punishment the Japanese were bad, South Wales Press, Sydney, 1992. Read a Timorese woman who helped him. The very cruel, but for justice the Austral- these and consider what they tell us about Japs must have got word of it because ians were worse. The Japanese may why many Australians felt a particular they came looking for him and that torture, punish, try to get you to tell, obligation towards East Timor. woman risked her life to save him. You but it is not certain you will die, but if can imagine how much furniture is in a the Australians suspect you, you’re A Mostly it was a long trudge. The hills native hut, but she had some old mats dead. The Australians had to rely on would break your heart. You’d look which she threw over him. … Those sort what other Timorese told them, and up and think it was just to the top of of instances were common. people have grudges, dislikes for oth- that one. You’d get up and there’d be E Once our section had been patrol- ers, or want to appear to know things. another one in front of you and another ling all day and hadn’t seen a Jap. … I … But I understand how it was for the after that. The native tracks zigzagged; finished guard duty at midnight when Australians: in a war like that your life you’d go along and back and you’d only the Japs started, a war chant. It was to every day depends on destroying first have gone a mile further. The natives work up their bloodlust, quite terrify- those who may kill you. In that situation SCREEN EDUCATION went along barefoot, all silent. Many a ing. We’d been in Timor fighting for six if I suspected someone might betray fright I’ve got when they’d pass and you months but still it chilled your blood. me maybe I too would kill them. wouldn’t have had any idea they were The officer would lead and hundreds of behind you. … Each of us had his native, voices would reply. They just completely 5 Australia’s ties to East embassy in Jakarta received full de- Timor in the 1970s tails from Indonesia of the timing of an attack on the Timorese town of Balibo East Timor has been a central issue in in October 1975 – three days before it Australian–Indonesian relations since occurred. the time of the territory’s decolonisa- tion from Portugal and its subsequent Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser met invasion and annexation by Indonesia Soeharto in October 1976. Fraser in the mid 1970s. offered de facto recognition of the Indonesian annexation of East Timor, Like the previous Liberal governments, which was followed by de jure rec- Gough Whitlam’s Labor govern- ognition in 1979. The Fraser govern- ment heaped praise on Indonesia’s ment also increased material aid to President Soeharto and engaged in the Indonesian military throughout the so-called batik shirt diplomacy. With late 1970s, when it was engaged in Portuguese colonialism coming to an extensive operations against the East end in 1975, Indonesia and its western Timorese guerilla resistance. successive Australian governments allies reacted to the withdrawal with supported Indonesia’s occupation of alarm, fearing that pro-communist For more than two decades after East Timor, regarding the Indonesian East Timorese were taking over and Indonesia’s 1975 invasion, the East occupation as the simplest way of that another communist stronghold Timorese suffered. Thousands need- avoiding a South-East Asian Cuba, a would emerge in the region, months lessly died. And all the while, Australia small state vulnerable to Communist after the fall of Saigon to the commu- did worse than stand idly by. Instead, influence adjacent to Australia. nists. Whitlam offered Soeharto assur- ances of Australian non-intervention, and even encouraged the Indonesian action to take over East Timor.
The legal front for the Indonesian mili- tary’s black operations at the time, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), was so convinced of the Australian government’s support that it immediately began briefing the Australian embassy in Jakarta on its planned covert operations. Memos, SCREEN EDUCATION cables and letters sent and received by Australia’s foreign department between 1974 and 1976 confirmed that Australia gave tacit approval to annex the former Portuguese colony. The papers also show that Australia’s 6 EXPLORING IDEAS AND ISSUES IN THE FILM
The characters complicit in their killing by our de- Journalism mand to know the truth about the The meaning and message of the war? Director Robert Connolly has said: film is carried by three characters – View Balibo: Creating the Balibo the journalist Roger East, the Fretilin Five (08:34) and Balibo: Death of The role of the journalist in wartime leader Jose Ramos-Horta, and the the Balibo Five (07:52). The mini- has changed profoundly. Now, journal- group of five Australian-based journal- documentaries provide information ists in remote parts of the world can ists who are murdered in Balibo. about the Balibo Five and the way get directions from the news desk by they are portrayed in the film. Draw satellite phone. In 1975, when this film 1 Discuss the characterisation of on this information to complete is set, these guys got on a plane, they Roger East. Why does he go to your responses to the questions. had a few rolls of reversal film, and no East Timor? Why is he determined 3 Discuss the motivation and behav- ability to communicate with Australia. to find out about the killing of the iour of Jose Ramos-Horta. Does They filmed in remote parts of East five journalists? Why does he stay he behave responsibly towards Timor, recorded the transcripts of their on in Dili when he has the oppor- the six journalists, or is he just story and sent them back to Austral- tunity to leave? What does the way obsessed with helping his nation ian newsrooms. The responsibility, the he faces his death tell us about tell its story – regardless of the editorial freedom, and the demands on him? Is he a hero? consequences to the journalists? them as young journalists to actually View Balibo: Roger East & Jose How do we see his decision to find the story, shows you just how Ramos-Horta (5.50). The mini- leave the country rather than fight good they were. The power that was documentary provides information – as a sensible and justified one, or given to these young guys when they about Roger East and the way he as running away? went there to find out the truth of what is portrayed in the film. Draw on View Balibo: Roger East & Jose was going on is far beyond what is this information to complete your Ramos-Horta (5.50). The mini- asked of journalists now. responses to the questions. documentary provides informa- 2 Discuss the behaviour and motiva- tion about Jose Ramos-Horta 5 In November 1975, four weeks af- tion of the five journalists murdered and the way he is portrayed in the ter the five journalists are reported in Balibo. Why are they there? Why film. Draw on this information to missing, East is approached by do they ignore the danger of the complete your responses to the Ramos-Horta who attempts to lure situation? Why do they not leave questions. him to East Timor to run the East
when they have the chance? Is 4 How do Ramos-Horta and the Timor News Agency. Why does SCREEN EDUCATION their behaviour foolish and naive, girl/woman Juliana represent the Ramos-Horta want to establish a or is it dedicated and noble? Were nation of Timor-Leste? What do news agency in East Timor? they sufficiently prepared by their their stories tell us about the nation 6 The Balibo Five and East put their employers to do the job they were and the impact of the Indonesian lives at risk to tell the truth about sent there to do? Does this make invasion and subsequent 25-year the Indonesian invasion of East their readers and us the audience, occupation? Timor. Why is their presence in 7 East Timor essential? What state- • Why did the Australian government starkly clear moral terms: the ment does Balibo make about the not help East Timor? invasion was illegal, unjustified role of journalists in regions experi- and murderous. The film, through encing unrest and conflict? 10 Discuss what the film says in Ramos-Horta’s recruitment of 7 In 1975, on his first overseas post- response to these three questions, East, suggests that if people had ing as a reporter, Tony Maniaty is and how it presents us with that known at the time what was hap- sent to East Timor. Discuss the information. For example, are we pening, then international opinion characterisation of Tony Maniaty. told the Indonesian government’s might have influenced events and What do we learn about his experi- reasons for invasion, or do we stopped the Indonesian invasion. ences in East Timor? make our judgement based on the 11 How did Indonesia and Australia Tony Maniaty in his address to brutality of the killing of the journal- present the issues? the Lowy Institute for International ists in Balibo and the invasion in Policy in Sydney on 26 August Dili? Are we told about the political Ramos-Horta visited Indonesia’s 2009 on ‘Television and War: The situation in East Timor, or do we foreign minister Adam Malik in Jakarta Legacy of Balibo’, outlined the make our judgement based on the in June 1974. He attempted to enlist role of journalists in covering war character of Ramos-Horta and the Indonesia’s diplomatic support for an zones through the decades and Fretilin fighters? Are we told about independent East Timor, and to allay the more recent trend for journal- the Australian government’s turning fears that Indonesia wanted to forci- ists to be specifically kidnapped, a blind eye to the invasion, or do bly acquire the territory. In response, tortured and killed whilst covering a we receive this message through Adam Malik provided written assur- war zone. Download a copy of his the way the killing is covered up? ances that Indonesia supported East speech at
The political issues SCREEN EDUCATION
The film raises questions about three nations:
• What was the political situation in East Timor in 1975? • Why did the Indonesians invade? 8 even senior policymakers in Indo- • If Fretilin gained power it might appealing to you to help oppose nesia wanted to see East Timor get provide a base for anti-Australian or stop the Indonesian takeover of independence. What happened? In and anti-Indonesian activity in the East Timor. What would you say? October 1974, Murtopo informed the region, and threaten the security Australian ambassador to Lisbon that of both those countries, and cause View Balibo: History of East Timor & until Mr Whitlam’s visit they had been instability in the region. Balibo (07:13). undecided about Timor. However, the • Indonesia wanted to remove such Prime Minister’s support for the idea instability, as it might encourage This mini-documentary provides of incorporation into Indonesia had other parts of the Indonesian na- information about the history of East helped them to crystallise their own tion (such as West Papua) to try to Timor, the political events and people thinking and they were now firmly con- break away. linked to the Indonesian invasion, and vinced of the wisdom of this course. • Australia saw that Indonesia was the significance of the town of Balibo trying to stabilise its nation, and in relation to the deaths of the Balibo Australia could have lobbied interna- that it had a legitimate claim to Five. tionally for a UN-supervised referen- make East Timor part of the Indo- dum at any time after the 1974 Carna- nesian nation. Visit
was able to work well with him. If the day of their deaths. Austral- SCREEN EDUCATION • When the Portuguese government he was challenged or opposed by ian defence officials were secretly abandoned East Timor it left a Australia, it might lead to his re- intercepting Indonesian messages power vacuum – there was nobody placement with a more radical and and reports. Australia did not in charge. threatening leadership, or it might want Indonesia to know that this • The party most likely to gain cause instability within Indonesia. electronic eavesdropping was hap- power, Fretilin, was seen to be left- Imagine that you are Prime Minis- pening, or the Indonesians would wing. ter Whitlam. Jose Ramos-Horta is have changed their communication 9 methods and Australia would have the truth and to maintain the belief for rights, or should it be prepared to lost access to a lot of important an independent East Timor. sacrifice them for political expedi- information. Imagine that you are ency, for the national interest? Do the prime minister – do you tell the 13 Director Robert Connolly has said: you behave with idealism, or with families of the killed journalists the Australia has a kind of immature pragmatism? Discuss these ques- truth – and have the Indonesians relationship with Indonesia. Aus- tions as a class. realize how you have found out tralia believes that we should put Download and read ‘Submission that truth – or do you pretend that aside any human rights concerns to the Senate Economics Commit- you do not know, and protect your we have about things that Indone- tee Regarding Foreign Investment intelligence network? sia has committed now or in the by State-Owned Entities’ by Dr past, for the military advantage Clinton Fernandes. This submis- Human rights issues and strong relationship. Whereas sion deals with the concept of I believe that nations need strong, the National Interest, which is an There are few equivalent events in open and rigorous relationships important organising principle in Australia’s history that so clearly illus- in order to build stronger relation- Australian domestic and foreign trate the clash between principle and ships. An unfortunately pragmatic policy. The submission is located pragmatic foreign policy – the aban- strategic relationship with Indone- at
Visit the following websites to learn more about the making of the film:
- http://www.balibo.com - http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/ hass/Timor/index.html
- http://newmatilda.com/2009/08/ SCREEN EDUCATION 12/was-general-really-there - http://www.unsw.edu.au/news/ pad/uniken/UnikenSeptOct09/ Uniken_SeptOct.pdf (pp.14–15 only) 10 14 Balibo is clearly a very factual film. Do you think the film has achieved The website is a valuable resource for It has impacts on the families of this? students to explore, read and use as the dead men, on the Timor-Leste 15 Behind the Scenes a reference point to complete other people who were involved in the Balibo: Behind the Scenes (35:23) activities related to a study of the film, events, on the reputation of past takes the viewer on a mostly as well as the events it narrates and political leaders such as Prime chronological journey of making issues it raises. Minister Whitlam, and on present the film in Melbourne, Darwin and political leaders such as Jose East Timor, and the emotional Further information Ramos-Horta. People could be journeys of the actors while they hurt by this film. What do you think played real people in the actual The film is based on Jill Jolliffe’s are the filmmaker’s responsibili- location where the events took book Balibo, Scribe Publications, ties in such a situation? Does the place. Melbourne, 2009 (originally published truth override all other considera- Share your thoughts about the as Cover-Up: the inside story of the tions, or should aspects that might filmmaking process with others in Balibo Five, 2001) be hurtful to people today not be the class. included? 16 Polyester, Perms and Short Shorts Journalist Tony Maniaty, who met the 13 Balibo wanted to tell the factual Balibo: Polyester, Perms and Short journalists in East Timor, has written story of the killing of the Balibo Shorts (09:12) reveals the process his account of the making of the film in five, the invasion of East Timor, of filmmaking in difficult locations Shooting Balibo: blood and memory in and the killing of Roger East. It with a smaller than usual crew. It East Timor, Viking (Penguin), Mel- presents these facts, but through shows tricks of the trade for mak- bourne, 2009. fiction – imagined conversations, ing a period film through wardrobe, an imagined journey by East to hair and locations. Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s Balibo, the creation of the charac- Share your thoughts about the continued justification of his position ter of Juliana as a composite figure challenges of making a period film on East Timor can be seen in Graham based on Truth and Reconciliation with others in the class. Freudenberg, A Certain Grandeur, Commission testimonies. How well Penguin, Melbourne, 2009 (revised do you think the film tells its story, Visiting the website edition). and gets its messages across? What are the main elements of the The official website for the film can be An evaluation of the Australian govern- film that contribute to, or fail to found at
I would hope that Balibo, even Five; research the history of East The mini-documentaries can be SCREEN EDUCATION though it’s a film about the specif- Timor; watch the trailer; view news accessed from the Metro magazine ics of what happened in East Timor footage, webisodes, interviews and website
This study guide was produced by ATOM. (©ATOM 2009) [email protected] For more information on Screen Education magazine, or to download other study guides for assessment, visit
visit
12