Kokoda: 39th Battalion (2006)

A bitter battle is fought between Australian and Japanese soldiers along the Kokoda trail in New Guinea during World War II.

Director:

Alister Grierson

Writers:

Alister Grierson, John Lonie

Stars:

Jack Finsterer, Travis McMahon, Simon Stone

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Finsterer	...	Jack Scholt
Travis McMahon	...	Darko
Simon Stone	...	Max Scholt
Luke Ford	...	Burke
Tom Budge	...	Johnno
Steve Le Marquand	...	Sam
Angus Sampson	...	Dan
Christopher James Baker	...	Blue (as Christopher Baker)
Ewen Leslie	...	Wilstead
Ben Barrack	...	The Lieutenant
Shane Bourne	...	The Doctor
William McInnes	...	The Colonel
Darren Taylor	...	Soldier - Forward Position
Lucas Stibbard	...	Wounded Man
Jeffey Gunn	...	Smiling PNG Stretcher Bearer

Storyline

A bitter battle is fought between Australian and Japanese soldiers along the Kokoda trail in New Guinea during World War II.

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Plot Keywords:

downpour | jungle warfare | 20th century | australian soldier | japanese soldier | 

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Taglines:

Mates Became Heroes. The Track Became Legend.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

A mispronunciation of the name "Kokoda" has crept into Australian military history and general vocabulary. Australians uniformly pronounce Kokoda as "Kok-oh-duh" but the locals in PNG pronounce it "Kok-uh-duh".

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Goofs

When Darko and Jack are creeping through the bush, you can see a figure run past in the distant background. The director admitted in the commentary that the figure was his safety officer running for the toilet.

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Quotes

[from trailer]
Dan: Suppose it'd be inappropriate to ask for leave on the grounds of compassion at this late juncture?
Sam: What grounds would they be then?
Dan: On the grounds that I don't wanna get me head blown off.

User Reviews

Kokoda on a human scale

While this film is not without it's flaws, it is definitely worth seeing. I found the dialogue hard to distinguish at times, and the plot line takes a little sorting out but the visuals work to stunning effect. It is a film that evokes a visceral (not to say gut-wrenching) response; one that brings the viewer much closer to understanding the nerve-jangling, terrifying experience of war, and the fortitude required to endure it.

Grierson's starting point are the words of the Isurava Memorial. It was the 'courage, mateship, endurance and sacrifice' of the boys and men of the 39th, 2/14th and 2/16th battalions, that bound these ordinary individuals together into a force stronger than the combined effects of their circumstances and the Japanese army.

The film is graphic in its depiction of the demands that that environment makes upon you physically. Though while watching it you might not feel the strength sapping jungle humidity or smell the stench of battle and its aftermath, you're left in no doubt about the challenges placed on human bodies by dysentery and malaria.

This is no glorification of war, but its grim and gritty reality. Seeing the film will help you appreciate the efforts of those who were there.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English German

Release Date:

2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Кокода

Filming Locations:

Mount Tamborine, Queensland, Australia

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,249,162

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), GFN Productions, Pacific Film and Television Commission

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1