State despotism and savage cruelty through the eyes of people coddled by civilization and democracy benefits.
1999. An Australian policeman Mark Waldman and a Canadian policewoman Julie Fortin find themselves in
East Timor as part of the (UN Mission in East Timor)
UNAMET. A liberation movement never weakens in this small Christian country, occupied by Muslim Indonesia.
And now it is shaking with fever before the coming
independence ballot.
The U.N.O. representatives must observe the preparation and carrying out of the voting in order to keep at least common legal regulations.
Alas, the mission is impossible. The unarmed peacemakers, devoid of the right to interfere, are not only unable to prevent a wave of horrible violence, but also find themselves in danger.
Terrorism and barbarity in all their horror. Uncontrolled pro-Indonesian crowds encouraged by soldiery... a language of cobbles and bottles with fiery blend... the burned churches... the massacred families ....
The audience is filled with this nightmare to the very marrow of their bones, following a tragic fate of the young East Timorese translator, Mark's and Julie's friend, Ismenio Soares.
But the most intolerable thing is a sense of helplessness and guilt, which observers have to carry, urgently evacuating from East Timor seized with chaos.
They will never forget faces of the people, which were climbing up barbed wires, trying to save themselves from Indonesian cutthroats. The people, which hopelessly were imploring for help...
The film had a great response in Australia, whose community has guilt complex for the not preventing of acts of violence in East Timor 1999.
This region continues to be one of the most disturbing.
The role of Mark Waldman brought Wenham the third AFI Award.
Cast:
David Wenham ...Mark Waldman
Isabelle Blais ...Julie Fortin
Alex Tilman ...Ismenio Soares
Fatima Almeida ...Madalena Soares
Felisberto Araujo ...João Soares
José da Costa ...Sico Soares
Damien Garvey ...Ron Nestovic
Linda Cropper ...Liz Savage
Toni Scanlan ...Robyn
Ines Araujo ...Maria Siga
Francisco de Carvalho ...Joaquim
Tara Morice ...Helen Waldman
Stephanie Meehan ...Sophie Waldman
Abigail McCallum ...Jen Waldman
Deobia Oparei ...Victor
Sri Sacdpraseuth ...Komsan
Angelo Lemos ...José Sarmento
Fivo Freitas ...Cesar
Ron White ...Bill
Khairi Razzaai ...Lieutenant Danarto
Mario Boavida ...Mateus da Costa
and the others...
TV mini-series