The Year of Living Dangerously Quiz

Answer: Indonesia

The movie commences with an Australian arriving to a surly reception at the airport immigration desk in Jakarta during the turbulent period of the mid-1960s. One of the key movie locations, the Presidential Palace, was originally the residence of the Dutch Governor-General until Indonesian Independence in 1949.

The history of the city dates back to the 4th century AD, when it was a small Hindu village on the banks of the Ciliwung River in north-eastern Java. The Dutch took control of the city in the early 17th century and named it Batavia, where it was the headquarters of the Dutch East India company.

This control remained until the Japanese took over during World War II. After World War II, negotiations on independence from Dutch rule lasted four years.

Answer: Military Coup

From the beginning of the movie when Hamilton is told by the immigration official that all westerners are now considered enemies in Indonesia and that (President) Sukarno is the voice of the Third World, it is very clear that political tensions are extremely high.

He is grudgingly allowed entry. Billy then explains to him some of reasons for the tension including the poverty of most of the population. In early 1965, President Sukarno governed a coalition of communists (the Partai Komunis Indonesia, PKI), Islamic groups and the military. Senior military figures were becoming increasingly concerned about the influence of the communists and, in response to a massive PKI rally, staged a military coup on the 30th of September. Several generals were killed. One survivor, senior general Suharto eventually took control and established a government.

There were massive reprisals against the PKI with conservative estimates of 500,000 deaths in the subsequent purges. The reporting of these events in the international press was generally brief and subdued.

The unfolding chaotic situation formed the powerful background to this movie. The movie's title comes from a quote by President Sukarno in August 1964 that the following year would be 'the year of living dangerously' as he foresaw the political turmoil and violence that would ensue.

Answer: Mel Gibson

Born in New York state in 1956 and raised in Sydney, Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson first came to the attention of movie-goers with his roles as the main protagonist in George Miller's 'Max Max' films and as Irish-Australian Frank Dunne in Peter Weir's first world war drama, 'Gallipoli'.

The latter role earned Gibson an AFI (Australian Film Institute) 'Best Actor in a Leading Role' award in 1981. Gibson received international accolades for his powerful role as the naive Guy Hamilton in 'The Year of Living Dangerously'.

Answer: Journalists

The main story line of the movie follows journalist Guy Hamilton (Gibson) as he is suddenly the key man on the scene, as the dramatic political turmoil unfolds. Hamilton is the rookie journalist from the Australian Broadcasting Service who is sent to Jakarta, to replace his disillusioned predecessor, and initially meets the old hands including Curtis from the Washington Post and O'Sullivan from the Sydney Herald. What was initially a mundane assignment quickly becomes highly charged, as events escalate out of control. Hamilton is greatly assisted by Billy Kwan, his diminutive photographer with a strong moral compass.

Answer: Sigourney Weaver, as Jill from England

Sigourney Weaver plays Jill, an assistant diplomat at the British Embassy. The unfolding love affair between Jill and Guy provides the personal counterpoint to the larger scale action happening around them. Learning that the PKI are receiving arms from the Chinese, Jill warns Guy to leave before widespread violence breaks out. Guy is conflicted between his desire for Jill and his need to capture what may be the story of a lifetime.

At this time, Weaver was establishing herself as a force in the movie industry, having played one of her most memorable roles as Ellen Ripley in 'Alien' three years previously.

Born Susan Alexandra Weaver in Manhattan in 1949, she adopted the name Sigourney, from a very minor character in Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby'.

She also has a British heritage through her mother, Essex-born Elizabeth Ingles.

Answer: Peter Weir and David Williamson

Tasmanian born Christopher Koch published his novel 'The Year of Living Dangerously' in 1978 and it won The Age's Book of the Year Award the following year. Several film makers were interested in the book, with Peter Weir successfully gaining the rights. Weir had already achieved great success with 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' (1975) and 'Gallipoli' (1981).

He subsequently directed a large number of movies including 'Dead Poet's Society', 'The Mosquito Coast', 'Green Card' and 'The Truman Show'. Several attempts were made to create a script from the book, including early drafts by Koch. Weir was not satisfied and brought in well-known Melbourne playwright David Williamson. Williamson's credits at that time included several plays that also became movies including 'The Removalists', 'Don's Party' and 'The Club'. Between Weir, Williamson and Koch, the movie script was finalized and shooting commenced in the Philippines, as permission to film in Indonesia was denied.

This film was an early example of successful co-operation between the Australian film industry and Hollywood (through MGM-United Artists).

Answer: Thrown from a window and died in Guy's arms

The diminutive and stubborn Chinese-Australian Billy Kwan was incensed by the treatment of the people by the Government and agonized by the death of his adopted daughter. He was also distressed at the inability or unwillingness of the foreign press to highlight the injustices happening around them.

He displays a sign reading 'Sukarno feed your people' from a window in the Hotel Indonesia. This subversive act prompts a response from the security forces. A struggle with goons from a security squad ensues and Billy is thrown from the window to his death in the street below.

Answer: She played a male character.

Linda Hunt received her Oscar for her brilliant portrayal of the short-statured (called a dwarf in the movie) male outcast, Billy Kwan. Hunt was the first person to win an Academy Award for portraying someone of the opposite sex. Director Peter Weir had originally wanted a male actor for the role but then realized in a superb piece of casting, that Hunt was simply the best person for the role. Make-up and baggy shirts meant that unless you knew this was a woman playing the role, you would not pick it.

Her scenes as Billy railing against the indifference of the foreign press, gazing on a large poster of Sukarno, and trying to come to terms with the death of his daughter are wonderful acting. For those who are fans of the NCIS franchise on TV, Hunt (born Lydia Hunter in New Jersey in 1945) is Henrietta 'Hetty' Lange in 'NCIS Los Angeles'.

Answer: His eye

After the death of Kwan in his arms, Hamilton is forced to make a critical decision: take Bryant's advice and get out of Jakarta as soon as possible to avoid the worsening violence or to stay and gather evidence of events in his role as a journalist. Perhaps as a counterpoint to the actual indifference in the western world to the horrific events in Jakarta at this time, Hamilton decides to stay to witness developments.

In the rising hysteria, including public executions, Hamilton is assaulted by a soldier.

The retina in one eye is damaged when he is hit by a rifle butt. It has been suggested that this injury is a metaphor for Hamilton's unwillingness to see the events around him.

Answer: Yes

In the manner of most movies with a romantic interest, Hamilton and Bryant are reunited at the end of the movie as they flee Jakarta. Hamilton's last minute escape is assisted by Kumar (Bembol Roco), the assistant and driver to Pete Curtis. This personal happiness is contrasted with the horror of the situation they are leaving. Mass shootings, including people kneeling by the roadside as they are executed, graphically portray the message that most will not live 'happily ever after'.

This juxtaposition provided a very dramatic and confronting conclusion.