description Balibo Overview
Balibo is a 2009 Australian political thriller directed by Robert Connolly and based on events surrounding Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East Timor. The film follows journalist Roger East as he investigates the disappearance and killing of five Australia-based television journalists, later known as the Balibo Five. Starring Anthony LaPaglia and Oscar Isaac, it examines war reporting, state violence, and the political response to the journalists' deaths.
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What is the film Balibo about?
Balibo is a 2009 Australian political thriller directed by Robert Connolly. It follows journalist Roger East as he investigates the deaths of five Australia-based television journalists during Indonesia's 1975 invasion of East Timor. [Australian Screen Online notes](https://aso.gov.au/titles/features/balibo/notes/)
Who were the Balibo Five?
The five journalists were Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham, Tony Stewart, Malcolm Rennie, and Brian Peters. They were killed while reporting from Balibo in East Timor in October 1975.
Is Balibo completely factual or partly fictionalized?
The film is based on true events and on Jill Jolliffe's 2001 book Cover-Up: The Inside Story of the Balibo Five. Historical commentary notes that the screenplay mixes documented facts with fictionalized and speculative elements, especially around Roger East's journey.
Who stars in Balibo?
Anthony LaPaglia plays Roger East, and Oscar Isaac plays the young Jose Ramos-Horta. The cast places the investigation of the Balibo Five alongside East Timor's wider political crisis.
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