The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

A young Australian reporter tries to navigate the political turmoil of Indonesia during the rule of President Sukarno with the help of a diminutive photographer.

Director:

Peter Weir

Writers:

C.J. Koch (novel), C.J. Koch (screenplay),

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt

Won 1 Oscar. Another 7 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Guy Hamilton
Sigourney Weaver	...	Jill Bryant
Linda Hunt	...	Billy Kwan
Michael Murphy	...	Pete Curtis
Bill Kerr	...	Colonel Henderson
Noel Ferrier	...	Wally O'Sullivan
Bembol Roco	...	Kumar
Paul Sonkkila	...	Kevin Condon
Ali Nur	...	Ali
Dominador Robridillo	...	Betjak Man
Joel Agona	...	Palace Guard
Mike Emperio	...	Sukarno
Bernardo Nacilla	...	Dwarf
Domingo Landicho	...	Hortono
Hermino De Guzman	...	Immigration Officer

Storyline

Guy Hamilton is a journalist on his first job as a foreign correspondent. His apparently humdrum assignment to Indonesia soon turns hot as President Sukarno electrifies the populace and frightens foreign powers. Guy soon is the hottest reporter on the story with the help of his photographer, half- Chinese dwarf Billy Kwan, who has gone native. Guy's affair with diplomat Jill Bryant also helps. Eventually Guy must face some major moral choices and the relationship between Billy and him reaches a crisis at the same time the politics of Indonesia does.

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Plot Keywords:

photographer | president | diplomat | foreign correspondent | corpse with eyes open | 

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Taglines:

Mel Gibson . . . Living Dangerously

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English Tagalog Filipino Indonesian

Release Date:

21 January 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

El año que vivimos en peligro

Filming Locations:

Artransa Park Film Studios, Mobbs Lane, Epping, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

McElroy & McElroy, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actors Joel Grey, Bob Balaban and Wallace Shawn all auditioned for the part of Billy Kwan.

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Goofs

When Guy runs toward Jill as she is leaving the party to keep her from going to Billy, his left hand is covered with blood. When he returns to Billy and puts his hand under Billy's head, there is no blood on his hand.

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Quotes

Billy Kwan: What then must we do? We must give with love to whoever God has placed in our path.

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Connections

Referenced in The Agency: The Year of Living Dangerously (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Beim Schlafengehen"
from "Four Last Songs"
by Richard Strauss
Performed by Kiri Te Kanawa and London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Andrew Davis
Courtesy of CBS Masterworks
Published by Boosey-Hawkes

User Reviews

Pretty much a flawless movie

I watched TYLD after a prof recommended it in grad school. I had to rent it from an obscure-movies rental place in Alexandria, Virginia and I now own the picture.

There are three elements, mixed together, that make TYLD superb, rich cinema. First, it captures the feel of westerners living abroad, the cluster of expat personalities that you find were you to live or work abroad.

Second, it is one of the best love stories ever crafted, with a "fleeting end of summer feel" between Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver. They are both young; Weaver is stunningly gorgeous. Their romance ends almost as abruptly as it begins. We've all been there.

The movie also captures an awesome historical moment and is fascinating Cold War history. The movie is flawless.