The Year of Living Dangerously is a 1982 political thriller directed by Peter Weir and based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Koch. The film stars Mel Gibson as Guy Hamilton, a young, ambitious journalist working for an Australian wire service who is dispatched to Indonesia to cover the potential overthrow of President Sukarno.
In Jakarta, Guy meets Billy Kwan, a diminutive, hunchbacked Chinese-Australian photojournalist who becomes his guide and confidant. Billy has devoted his life to documenting the struggles of the Indonesian people and is well-connected within the country's political and social circles. Through Billy, Guy gains access to key sources and insights into the complicated political landscape of Indonesia.
As Guy begins to probe deeper into the potential coup, he becomes romantically involved with Jill Bryant, a beautiful British diplomat assigned to Jakarta. Their relationship is complicated by the fact that Jill is already engaged to a married Australian diplomat, and by the danger inherent in their work amidst the escalating chaos and violence in the city.
Eventually, the coup attempt by a group of communist generals fails, triggering a brutal anti-communist purge that claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Guy and Jill are forced to flee the country, while Billy, who actively supported the coup, is left behind and killed in the purge.
The Year of Living Dangerously is a gripping and intense drama that captures the political turmoil and human drama of a pivotal moment in Indonesia's history. It explores themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, and the moral complexities of journalism in a dangerous and volatile environment. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Director, Best Actor (Gibson), and Best Supporting Actor (Linda Hunt, who won the award for her portrayal of Billy Kwan).