Five Australian journalists murdered, one woman in search of the truth…. The documentary Circle of Silence lifts the veil on one of the darkest chapters in the history of Australia and East Timor. Selected for FIFO 2024, Circle of Silence is a poignant plea for justice and human rights to be discovered on NC la 1stet france.tv.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 8:00 p.m., Circle of Silence will be broadcast as part of the show Routes on NC la 1st. This Australian documentary, directed by Luigi Acquisto and Lurdes Pires, delves into the heart of an explosive political affair that marked the history of Australia and East Timor. Selected for the 2024 Oceanian International Documentary Film Festival (FIFO), this film is inspired by the award-winning book by Shirley Shackleton, a woman whose life was turned upside down by the assassination of her husband, Greg Shackleton, one of the five Australian journalists killed in 1975 in Balibó, in what was then Portuguese Timor.
A tireless quest
The documentary follows Shirley in her tireless quest to uncover the truth behind the massacre, an unsolved war crime that continues to haunt Australian history. When the Australian Federal Police abandoned their investigation citing a lack of evidence, Shirley refused to accept this conclusion. This documentary highlights its efforts to unearth new evidence, while exploring the wider implications of Australia’s actions in East Timor, a territory ravaged by one of the worst genocides since the Holocaust.
In addition to her personal investigation, Shirley travels to Jakarta to confront those responsible for this crime and returns to Balibó, where she participates in a moving ceremony, symbolizing the quest for reconciliation and truth. “Circle of Silence” is much more than a simple criminal investigation: it is a profound reflection on the responsibility of governments, justice and human rights, as well as on the often forgotten historical tragedies.
A real social impact
This film also stands out for its aim of creating a real social impact. In addition to its broadcast in Australia, a version of the documentary was dubbed into Tetum, the official language of East Timor, thus allowing wider distribution in this country still marked by decades of struggle for independence. The filmmakers also hope that this film will serve as a basis for civic education in Australia and Timor, while advocating for the reopening of the investigation into the Balibó massacre.
